Chinese word

说老实话

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuō lǎo shí huà

Meaning

  • adverbhonestly

Example

说老实话，他根本没准备。shuō lǎo shí huà tā gēn běn méi zhǔn bèi

Honestly, he wasn't prepared at all.

Illustration for 说老实话 (honestly)

More examples

跟你说老实话，我其实不太喜欢那部电影。gēn nǐ shuō lǎo shí huà wǒ qí shí bú tài xǐ huān nà bù diàn yǐng

To be honest with you, I don't really like that movie.

Core concept

A small verbal step from social politeness into a plain, unfiltered opinion.

Common phrases

  • 跟你说老实话gēn nǐ shuō lǎo shí huà

    to be honest with you

Similar words

说实话shuō shí huà: Introduces something genuinely believed or felt and said honestly.
老实说lǎo shí shuō: Introduces a straightforward statement while keeping a mild, neutral tone.
说实在话shuō shí zài huà: Introduces a candid statement that stays close to the actual facts.
坦白说tǎn bái shuō: Introduces a candid statement with the feeling of openly admitting something.

Definition in Chinese

用来引出个人真实看法或评价的俗语短句，常位于句首或作插入语，与“说实话”“老实说”意义相近。yòng lái yǐn chū gè rén zhēn shí kàn fǎ huò píng jià de sú yǔ duǎn jù cháng wèi yú jù shǒu huò zuò chā rù yǔ yǔ shuō shí huà lǎo shí shuō yì yì xiāng jìn

Word origin

说老实话 (shuōlǎoshíhuà, "speak honestly") pairs an everyday verb for speaking with a phrase for honest words, preserving a direct link between its form and its use before a candid opinion.

Usage tips

  • The nearest English adverb can sound like a complaint or challenge, while this Chinese opener may simply introduce a straightforward opinion, so surrounding tone matters.

Other meanings

  • tell the truthverb

Word lists with this word