Chinese word

说实话

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuō shí huà

Meaning

  • adverbhonestly

Example

说实话，我不太喜欢这部电影。shuō shí huà wǒ bú tài xǐ huān zhè bù diàn yǐng

Honestly, I don't really like this movie.

Illustration for 说实话 (honestly)

More examples

说实话，这件事比想象的复杂得多。shuō shí huà zhè jiàn shì bǐ xiǎng xiàng de fù zá de duō

Honestly, this matter is much more complicated than I imagined.

Core concept

A signal that the next statement comes from the speaker's real judgment rather than polite concealment.

Common phrases

  • 说实话，shuō shí huà

    honestly

  • 说实话，我觉得shuō shí huà wǒ jué de

    honestly, I think

Similar words

坦白说tǎn bái shuō: Used before a frank statement that discloses the truth or a secret.
老实说lǎo shí shuō: Used before a direct, unpolished expression of personal opinion.
说真的shuō zhēn de: Used to emphasize the speaker's sincere feelings, especially with surprise or strong emotion.
实话说shí huà shuō: Used to introduce the truth directly and without polite softening.

Definition in Chinese

表示坦率陈述或承认事实的副词性短语，用于表明说话人将坦诚或承认某事，口语中常见。biǎo shì tǎn shuài chén shù huò chéng rèn shì shí de fù cí xìng duán yǔ yòng yú biǎo míng shuō huà rén jiāng tǎn chéng huò chéng rèn mǒu shì kóu yǔ zhōng cháng jiàn

Word origin

说 (shuō, "speak") + 实 (shí, "true") + 话 (huà, "words") presents truth as something spoken plainly, giving the expression its role as an introduction to a candid remark.

Usage tips

  • A positive or negative opinion can follow this opener, so it does not predict that the speaker is about to complain.

Other meanings

  • franklyadverb
  • to tell the truthadverb

Word lists with this word