shìshí: 事实 - Fact, Reality, The Truth

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

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.

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 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.

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).”

• 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.