诚实

• Pinyin: chéng shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 诚 = 讠(speech) + 成 (become, phonetic), meaning sincere; 实 = 宀 (roof) + 头 (simplified), meaning real or solid

Meaning

Honest; truthful. Describing a person who does not lie or deceive.

A core moral value in Chinese culture, used to describe character and behaviour. Often appears in educational contexts when teaching children about virtues. Can describe both habitual honesty (as a trait) and a specific honest act.

Examples

1. 做人要诚实，不能说谎。 One should be honest and not tell lies.
2. 他是一个非常诚实的人，大家都信任他。 He is a very honest person, and everyone trusts him.
3. 诚实地告诉我，你到底怎么想的。 Tell me honestly — what do you really think?

Usage Guide

Context: moral, everyday, education

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 诚实是一种很好的品质。(Honesty is a wonderful quality.)
• 孩子从小就要学会诚实。(Children should learn to be honest from a young age.)

Don't Say

• 这个答案很诚实 (Don't use 诚实 to describe things — it describes people or their behaviour; say 准确 for an accurate answer)

Origin & History

诚 means sincere or true; 实 means real or solid. Together they describe someone who is genuinely truthful.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal