朴实

• Pinyin: pǔ shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 朴 = 木 + 卜 (wood + divination — the raw, uncarved natural state); 实 = 宀 + 贯 (roof + threaded — solid/real substance)

Meaning

Honest and unpretentious; simple and sincere. Describes a person or style that is genuine, plain, and free from artifice or ostentation.

A highly positive quality in Chinese cultural values, associated with integrity and authenticity. 朴实的人 = a down-to-earth, genuine person; 朴实的文风 = a plain, sincere writing style; 朴实无华 = plain and unadorned (idiom). Often contrasted with 华而不实 (showy but hollow).

Examples

1. 他一生保持着农民出身的朴实本色，即便位居高位也从不讲排场、不摆架子，深受同事和下属的敬重。 He kept the honest, down-to-earth character of someone from a farming background throughout his life; even in a high position, he never chased pomp or put on airs, earning deep respect from colleagues and subordinates.
2. 这位诺贝尔奖得主在领奖台上发表的感言语言朴实、情感真挚，没有任何刻意雕琢的痕迹，令全场听众动容。 The Nobel laureate’s remarks on the podium were plainspoken and deeply sincere, with no trace of deliberate polishing, and moved the entire audience.
3. 朴实的民风是这座小城最珍贵的文化财富，世代居民在此安居乐业，以诚信为本、以勤劳为荣。 The honest, unpretentious local culture is this small city’s most valuable heritage; for generations, residents have built good lives here—grounded in integrity and proud of hard work.

Usage Guide

Context: character, culture, writing style, praise

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 优秀的记者应当追求语言的朴实与内容的深度，避免用华丽辞藻掩盖论据的空洞，真正做到文字为事实服务而非凌驾于事实之上。(Excellent journalists should pursue plainness of language and depth of content, avoiding the use of ornate rhetoric to conceal the emptiness of arguments, and truly ensuring that writing serves the facts rather than rising above them.)
• 这位扎根基层三十年的乡村教师以其朴实的言传身教影响了一代又一代的山区孩子，其育人之道远比任何精雕细琢的教育理论更具生命力。(This rural teacher who has been rooted at the grassroots for thirty years has influenced generation after generation of mountain children through his sincere personal example, and his approach to nurturing people has far more vitality than any elaborately crafted educational theory.)

Don't Say

• 朴实 emphasises sincerity and lack of pretence — 朴素 (simple/plain) focuses more on material simplicity in lifestyle or appearance; do not confuse with 简单 (simple in the sense of easy or uncomplicated); 朴实无华 is the formal idiom form

Origin & History

朴 (simple, plain, uncarved — 木 wood + 卜 divination → the natural state of wood before carving) + 实 (solid, real, sincere — 宀 roof + 贯 threaded through → solid substance)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal