The character 实 — “real”: how to write it and what it means
real, true
The Chinese character 实 is read shí and means “real, true”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 实
实 has 8 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 实, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 实 is made of
On top, 宀 — “roof”.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 实
- 其实actually, in factHSK 3
- 诚实honestHSK 4
- 确实indeed, reallyHSK 4
- 实在really, truly; honestHSK 4
- 实际reality; realHSK 4
- 实际上in factHSK 4
- 事实factHSK 5
- 真实real, trueHSK 5
- 实习do an internshipHSK 5
- 实现realize, achieveHSK 5
- 实用practicalHSK 5
- 果实fruitHSK 5
- 实验experimentHSK 5
- 实践practiceHSK 5
- 实行put into practiceHSK 5
- 实施implementHSK 5
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 实?
实 has 8 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 实 mean?
实 means “real, true”. It appears in 其实 (“actually”), 诚实 (“honest”), 确实 (“indeed”), 实在 (“really”).
How do you pronounce 实?
实 is read shí. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 实 have?
8 strokes.
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 实 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
Start for free