真 zhēn — real; true; genuine
这个消息是真的吗？Zhè ge xiāo xi shì zhēn de ma?Is this news true?
Common words: 真的 (zhēn de)、认真 (rèn zhēn)、真正 (zhēn zhèng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "genuine"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "genuine", including 真 (zhēn), 纯 (chún). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "genuine" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 真 (zhēn), 纯 (chún) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhēn, chún — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 真 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 真 zhēnreal; true; genuineUseful words: 真的, 认真
- 纯 chúnpure; simple; unmixed; genuineUseful words: 单纯, 纯净水
Common words for these 2 "genuine" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 真 (zhēn) — so "genuine" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "genuine".
纯 chún — pure; simple; unmixed; genuine
这块布料是纯棉做的。Zhè kuài bù liào shì chún mián zuò de.This fabric is made of pure cotton.
Common words: 单纯 (dān chún)、纯净水 (chún jìng shuǐ)、纯粹 (chún cuì)
All 2 characters
Open 真、纯 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.