How to Write 实 (shí) — Meaning “Real, solid, or fact.”

Imagine that under a roof (宀), your head (头) stays honest and grounded in facts. This visual of keeping your head real under a roof helps link the shape to the meaning “real, solid, fact.”

Write the roof radical first: a dot, then a horizontal hook, then a short dot inside. For the bottom part 头, remember to place two dots on top, then a long horizontal line, a left-falling stroke, and a final dot. A common mistake is making the horizontal line too short or mixing up the dots.

实 has a bottom part that looks like the head character 头, while 宅 has a bottom part 乇 (a cross-like shape) and 宇 has 于 (a simple horizontal with a hook). Their meanings differ too: 实 is about reality, 宅 means residence, and 宇 means universe or space.

实 appears in common words like 真实 (true), 实习 (internship or practice), and 诚实 (honest). It is used daily in both spoken and written Chinese and reflects cultural values of honesty and solidness.

Common words containing 实 include: 真实 (zhēn shí) — real; authentic; true; 实习 (shí xí) — Internship or to practice.; 诚实 (chéng shí) — honest; truthful.