How to Write 真 (zhēn) — Meaning “real; true; really”

Imagine an eye (目) looking at a pair of legs (八) standing firmly on the ground — this person is honest and 'true' to themselves. The number eight (八) can remind you of the eight legs of a spider, but think of it as a stable base for truth.

Write the top 目 with balanced vertical strokes, then add the bottom 八 as two separate strokes spreading outward — do not let them touch the 目 above. A common mistake is making the 目 too wide or connecting the 八 to the eye, which changes the character's proportions.

真 has 目 on top and 八 below, meaning 'true'. 盱 has 目 on the left and 于 (yú) on the right, meaning 'to stare'. 盲 has 亡 (wáng) above 目, meaning 'blind'. Focus on the bottom element: 八 vs. 于 vs. 亡 to tell them apart.

真 appears in everyday phrases like 真的 (zhēn de, 'really') and 认真 (rèn zhēn, 'serious'). It is a core concept in Chinese culture, representing sincerity and truthfulness, often praised as a personal virtue. You might hear 真好 (zhēn hǎo) to express genuine admiration.

Common words containing 真 include: 真的 (zhēn de) — really; true; 真好 (zhēn hǎo) — really good; great; 认真 (rèn zhēn) — serious; earnest; conscientious.