Chinese word

真的吗

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhēn de ma

Meaning

  • adverbreally

Example

你说他结婚了，真的吗？nǐ shuō tā jié hūn le zhēn de ma

You say he got married. Really?

Illustration for 真的吗 (really)

More examples

你昨天买了新手机，真的吗？nǐ zuó tiān mǎi le xīn shǒu jī zhēn de ma

You bought a new phone yesterday, really?

Core concept

A brief spoken question that checks whether new information is true and can also show surprise.

Common phrases

  • 你说的真的吗nǐ shuō de zhēn de ma

    is what you said true

  • 这真的吗zhè zhēn de ma

    Is this true

Similar words

真的zhēn de: Used as an adverb to show that something is genuinely true.
是吗shì ma: A brief question showing surprise or asking for light confirmation of what was said.
真的假的zhēn de jiǎ de: A strongly worded, casual question demanding to know whether a claim is true.

Definition in Chinese

口语中用来向对方确认某事是否属实的短句，语气可以表示怀疑也可以表示惊讶。kóu yǔ zhōng yòng lái xiàng duì fāng què rèn mǒu shì shì fǒu shǔ shí de duǎn jù yǔ qì ké yǐ biǎo shì huái yí yě ké yǐ biǎo shì jīng yà

Word origin

真的吗 (zhēndema, "really?") is a conversational shortening of 是真的吗 (shì zhēn de ma, "is it really so?"), with the understood subject left out because the claim is already clear.

Usage tips

  • A rising, lively voice can show friendly surprise, while a flat or falling voice can sound doubtful, so the same expression fits both reactions.

Word lists with this word