事实

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事实 [2025/08/10 11:21] – created xiaoer事实 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== shìshí: 事实 - Fact, Reality, The Truth ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 事实, shishi, fact in Chinese, Chinese word for reality, truth vs fact in Chinese, objective truth Chinese, 事实证明, 事实上, Chinese for fact, what is shishi. +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **事实 (shìshí)**, the essential Chinese word for "fact" and "reality." This page explores how **shìshí** refers to objective, verifiable information, distinguishing it from opinion or belief. Learn how it's used in everyday conversation, legal contexts, and formal arguments in China, and understand its cultural importance in a society that values evidence. This guide provides a deep dive into its character origins, practical examples, and common mistakes to help you master this fundamental term. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shìshí +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A thing that is known or proved to be true; an objective fact. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **事实 (shìshí)** is your go-to word for anything that can be proven or observed. It represents the cold, hard data of a situation, completely separate from anyone's feelings, interpretations, or opinions about it. If you can point to evidence for it, it's a **事实**. It's the bedrock of news reports, scientific statements, and logical arguments. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **事 (shì):** This character means "matter," "affair," "event," or "thing." It represents something that happens or a task that is done. +
-  * **实 (shí):** This character means "real," "true," "solid," or "actual." The top part (宀) represents a roof or a container, and the bottom part originally depicted valuables, giving the sense of something substantial and "full" of reality. +
-When combined, **事实 (shìshí)** literally translates to "a real matter" or "an actual event," which perfectly captures the English meaning of a "fact." +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-While "fact" is a universal concept, its application in Chinese culture can be nuanced. There is a strong emphasis on evidence-based reasoning, encapsulated in the popular idiom **事实胜于雄辩 (shìshí shèng yú xióngbiàn)**, which means "Facts speak louder than words" or "Facts triumph over eloquence." This highlights a deep-seated respect for provable truth in formal contexts like business, academia, and law. +
-However, a key cultural comparison with Western, particularly American, culture lies in the conflict between stating a **事实** and maintaining social harmony (**和谐, héxié**). In many Western contexts, "telling it like it is" or being brutally honest is often seen as a virtue. In China, while the **事实** is important, there may be social situations where directly stating an uncomfortable **事实** is avoided to prevent someone from losing face (**丢面子, diū miànzi**) or disrupting group harmony. A learner should be aware that while the *definition* of **事实** is the same, the social calculation of *when* and *how* to state one can differ. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**事实** is a versatile and common word used across various registers. +
-  * **In Formal Contexts:** In news reports, legal proceedings, and academic papers, **事实** is used to refer to established, objective information. You'll often see phrases like **根据事实 (gēnjù shìshí)**, meaning "according to the facts." +
-  * **In Everyday Conversation:** The phrase **事实上 (shìshí shàng)**, meaning "in fact" or "actually," is extremely common. It's used to introduce a piece of information that might be contrary to what was just said or what is commonly believed. It's a great way to politely correct someone or add a surprising detail. +
-  * **In Arguments and Debates:** **事实** is used to draw a clear line between objective reality and subjective opinion. A common way to counter an opposing view is to say, "**这不是观点，这是事实 (Zhè bùshì guāndiǎn, zhè shì shìshí)**," meaning "This isn't an opinion, this is a fact." +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 你必须接受这个**事实**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū jiēshòu zhège **shìshí**. +
-    * English: You must accept this fact. +
-    * Analysis: A straightforward and common use of the term. **接受 (jiēshòu)** means "to accept." +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * **事实上**，我根本不认识他。 +
-    * Pinyin: **Shìshí shàng**, wǒ gēnběn bù rènshi tā. +
-    * English: In fact, I don't know him at all. +
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of **事实上** as a conversational adverb to introduce a truth that clarifies or corrects a situation. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 历史**事实**不容否认。 +
-    * Pinyin: Lìshǐ **shìshí** bùróng fǒurèn. +
-    * English: Historical facts cannot be denied. +
-    * Analysis: This shows **事实** used in a formal context. **历史 (lìshǐ)** means "history" and **不容否认 (bùróng fǒurèn)** is a strong phrase for "cannot be denied." +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 他的故事和**事实**不符。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā de gùshi hé **shìshí** bùfú. +
-    * English: His story does not match the facts. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **事实** is used as a benchmark for truth. **不符 (bùfú)** means "does not conform to" or "does not match." +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 这是一个无可争辩的**事实**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè wú kě zhēngbiàn de **shìshí**. +
-    * English: This is an indisputable fact. +
-    * Analysis: **无可争辩 (wú kě zhēngbiàn)** is a formal way to say "indisputable" or "unquestionable," often paired with **事实**. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 我们要以**事实**为依据，不能凭空想象。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen yào yǐ **shìshí** wéi yījù, bùnéng píngkōng xiǎngxiàng. +
-    * English: We must base our conclusions on facts, not on baseless imagination. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the principle of evidence-based reasoning. **以...为依据 (yǐ...wéi yījù)** means "to take... as a basis." +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 记者报道时必须尊重**事实**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Jìzhě bàodào shí bìxū zūnzhòng **shìshí**. +
-    * English: When reporting, journalists must respect the facts. +
-    * Analysis: **尊重 (zūnzhòng)** means "to respect," a common verb used with **事实**. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 你说的不是**事实**，只是你的观点。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de bùshì **shìshí**, zhǐshì nǐ de guāndiǎn. +
-    * English: What you're saying is not a fact, it's just your opinion. +
-    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of how **事实** is contrasted with **观点 (guāndiǎn)**, "opinion." +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 所有证据都证明了这是**事实**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu zhèngjù dōu zhèngmíngle zhè shì **shìshí**. +
-    * English: All the evidence proves that this is a fact. +
-    * Analysis: Shows the relationship between **证据 (zhèngjù)**, "evidence," and **事实**. Evidence is used to establish a fact. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 他试图歪曲**事实**来为自己辩护。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā shìtú wāiqū **shìshí** lái wèi zìjǐ biànhù. +
-    * English: He tried to distort the facts to defend himself. +
-    * Analysis: **歪曲 (wāiqū)** means "to distort" or "to twist," a negative action often associated with **事实**. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-A crucial point for learners is distinguishing **事实** from similar but distinct concepts. +
-  * **事实 (shìshí) vs. 真相 (zhēnxiàng) - Fact vs. The Whole Truth:** +
-    * **事实 (shìshí)** is a single, objective piece of data. (e.g., "The window is broken.") +
-    * **真相 (zhēnxiàng)** is the complete, often hidden, story or reality behind an event. It's what a detective seeks. (e.g., "The **truth** is that a bird flew into the window, causing it to break.") +
-    * **Mistake:** Using **事实** when you mean the entire story. You investigate to find the **真相**, and along the way, you collect many **事实**. +
-  * **事实 (shìshí) vs. 道理 (dàolǐ) - Fact vs. Reason/Principle:** +
-    * **事实 (shìshí)** is about what //is//. ("It is a **fact** that the sun rises in the east.") +
-    * **道理 (dàolǐ)** is about what //makes sense// or what is //right//. ("It makes sense (**有道理, yǒu dàolǐ**) to get up early to see the sunrise.") +
-    * **Mistake:** Saying someone's logical argument is not a "fact." +
-      * **Incorrect:** 你说的没有事实。 (Nǐ shuō de méiyǒu shìshí.) - "What you said has no fact." +
-      * **Correct:** 你说的没有道理。 (Nǐ shuō de méiyǒu dàolǐ.) - "What you said makes no sense." or "What you said is not a fact (不是事实)." +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[真相]] (zhēnxiàng) - The whole truth of a matter, often something complex or hidden that needs to be uncovered. +
-  * [[现实]] (xiànshí) - Reality; the actual state of the world or a situation, as opposed to ideals or dreams. +
-  * [[观点]] (guāndiǎn) - Opinion; point of view. The direct opposite of a **事实**. +
-  * [[证据]] (zhèngjù) - Evidence; proof. Evidence is what you use to establish a **事实**. +
-  * [[道理]] (dàolǐ) - Reason; logic; principle. A concept of sense or morality, distinct from an objective **事实**. +
-  * [[情况]] (qíngkuàng) - Situation; circumstances. A situation is often described using a collection of **事实**. +
-  * [[数据]] (shùjù) - Data. Numerical data is a specific and common type of **事实**. +
-  * [[其实]] (qíshí) - Actually; in fact. A very common adverb, used almost interchangeably with **事实上 (shìshí shàng)** in conversation. +
-  * [[属实]] (shǔshí) - (Verb) To be true; to be verified as a fact. A formal term used to confirm that something reported is indeed a **事实**.+