真

zhēn
HSK 2
#204 most
frequent character
really, truly, indeed, real, true
adverb
adjective

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

真 first meant 'precious, valuable'. Its old shape had 貝 sea shell, and two sound parts that time has worn into 十 and 具 without 目. From 'valuable' the sense grew to 'real' and then 'true'.

真 as a component in other characters

sound12 characters
镇慎填颠滇嗔缜稹瞋禛鬒瑱

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Example Sentences

他真是个好人。
tā zhēnshì gè hǎorén 。
He is really a good person.
这个问题真难。
zhègè wèntí zhēnnán 。
This question is really difficult.
她的画真美。
tāde huà zhēnměi 。
Her painting is really beautiful.

Grammar Points

HSK 2
Expressing "really" with "zhen"

Words with similar meanings

确实quèshí
indeed
A more formal expression to confirm the truth of something.
真正zhēnzhèng
genuine
Emphasizes the authenticity of something.

Homophones

针zhēn
needle, injection
侦zhēn
to scout, to spy, to detect
珍zhēn
precious thing, treasure

Words Starting With 真

真正zhēn zhèng
genuine; real; true; genuinely
真实zhēn shí
true; real
真理zhēn lǐ
truth
真挚zhēn zhì
sincere; sincerity
真相zhēn xiàng
the truth about sth; the actual facts

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Public Lists with 真

Feelings & Emotions
Vocabulary for happiness, sadness, anger, fear, love, excitement, etc.
Common Adjectives
Descriptive words for size, quality, temperature, mood, and more.
HSK 2
All words for the HSK 2 test