實 (shí) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

實

shí[shi2]Tone 2

real, true, solid

HSK 2

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实

Guru Deep Dive

English · real, true, solid

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Topology:Top-bottom

Strokes:8

Writing Balance Rule: The top roof component (宀) must be wide and shelter the lower body securely. The lower internal elements must be balanced neatly within the vertical central axis.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 實 was simplified to 实 by replacing the complex internal components and traditional shell/wealth components with a simpler structural arrangement.

1. Meaning

Real, true, solid, honest

really, definitelyfruit, seedsubstance, reality

Adjective / AdverbNeutral#truth#reality#nature#existence

Sample Usage

这是实话。
zhè shì shíhuà.
This is the truth.
他做事很实干。
tā zuò shì hěn shígan.
He is very practical and hardworking in doing things.

2. Sound

/[ʂi²¹⁴]/Tone: 214

實

shíshi2

´(35)

=shí

Initial Consonant

Type: Retroflex Fricative

Sounds like: sh sound like the start of 'shirt' with the tongue curled back

UnaspiratedRetroflex

Airflow Tactile Test: Hollow wind sound through curled tongue channel.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip curled back near the hard palate, creating a retroflex fricative.

Final Rhyme

i (-i*)

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: buzzing apical vowel (after retroflex initials)

Note: Written as 'i (-i*)', pronounced as rounded 'i' [y].

Mouth Shape Guide: Combine initial 'zh-' (jr) with final '-i' (rr/zz).

Common Learner Trap: Do NOT pronounce '-i' as 'ee' after zh-! Keep your tongue in the consonant position and buzz 'rr/zz'.

Tone

T2 (35)

3 → 5 (35)

2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 is a rising tone, starting moderately low and sweeping upward, similar to asking 'Huh?' in English with surprise.

Sandhi: When followed by another Tone 3 syllable, it changes to a Tone 2 (rising 35) according to standard Mandarin third tone sandhi rules.

👂

Listening trap: Mistaking the retroflex initial sh- for a dental s- sound, or confusing the retroflex vowel ending with a standard English 'ee' sound.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Start at a mid-high pitch, dip low down into your chest, and rise up sharply to indicate Tone 3.

3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 8 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The top roof component (宀) must be wide and shelter the lower body securely. The lower internal elements must be balanced neatly within the vertical central axis.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 實 was simplified to 实 by replacing the complex internal components and traditional shell/wealth components with a simpler structural arrangement.

4. Components

Radical 宀 · Roof radical (roof, house)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 宀 (Indicates a shelter or enclosed space where wealth/goods are kept)

Underneath a shelter roof (宀), there is a collection of cowrie shells or goods (representing wealth and substance), signifying something solid, real, and full.

宀 roof or house
头 lower portion representing solid substance or wealth

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

6· Phonetic Root: 宀 (mián)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally, the character combined a roof (宀) with a container of goods or cowries (貝 in traditional 實), showing that a house filled with treasures is substantial and real.

Semantic Evolution: From 'filled house/treasures' to 'solid, full', then generalized to mean 'true, real, actual, honest'.

In ancient times, wealth was measured by physical goods stored under a roof.
The traditional form 實 clearly shows a house (宀) containing money/wealth (貝).

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: ジツ (jitsu) / Kun: mI, mi.ru

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

실

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Inside the house under the roof (宀), everything is solid, real, and filled with true value (实).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

买

mǎito buyShares lower container shapes but means purchasing.

卖

màito sellHas a cross/ten shape on top representing going out to sell.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

头(tóu)

头 means head and has two dots at the top instead of a full roof radical 宀.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

這件事情是 [___] 的。

Clue: shí

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the simplified structure of 实 with 头 due to the similar lower components, or missing the roof radical entirely.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see the character 实, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?

Production: How do you write the character for 'real/true' (shí) starting from the top roof radical?

實shíreal, true, solid

Speed:

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