真

zhēn
adverb HSK 1 #51

Meanings

  1. 1 really; truly
  2. 2 real; true; genuine

Examples

HSK 1
Nǐ zhēn hǎo!
You're so nice!
HSK 1
Zhēn de ma?
Really?
HSK 1
Jīntiān zhēn lěng.
It's really cold today.

Tips

usage
真 as an adverb means 'really/truly' and adds emphasis: 真好 (really good), 真漂亮 (really beautiful). As an adjective, it means 'real/genuine': 真的 (real), opposite of 假的 (fake).

Components

semantic
直 zhí
straight; upright
Top 直 (straight, upright) is the semantic anchor: what is straight is true, genuine. Historically the pairing 'straight + base-stand' depicted a sacrificial vessel with an upright reading needle. Indexed under Kangxi #109 目 because the eye sits embedded inside 直 - the radical isn't a separable surface piece.
semantic
几 jī
small table; stand
Bottom 几 (small table, stand) - supports the upright element above. Pictographically a small bench or pedestal. In 真 the base reinforces the imagery of something firmly mounted, weighed and verified - the genuine article, not a forgery. Same shape as the 几 standing for 'how many' through phonetic loan, but here strictly pictorial.

Filed under radical 目 (mù, #109) by convention. 目 is not a separate component in 真, so no strokes are highlighted.

Stroke Order

真 zhēn