真
Character learning workspace

zhēn · real, actual, true, genuine

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 2HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #76
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 真

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 真 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

目Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 真 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 真

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

zhēnWords pronounced zhēn
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 真 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ shuō wǒ ài nǐ shí shì rèn zhēn de.我说我爱你时是认真的。

I was serious when I said I love you.

Source: Tatoeba #5551019 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shuō de bú shì zhēn de.你说的不是真的。

What you said is not true.

Source: Tatoeba #1428141 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shuō de bù kě néng shì zhēn de.他说的不可能是真的。

What he said cannot be true.

Source: Tatoeba #3666915 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhēn de zhēn de hěn xiǎng nǐ.我真的真的很想你。

I really, really miss you.

Source: Tatoeba #12475708 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ juéde nǐ shuō de shì zhēn de.我觉得你说的是真的。

I think what you say is true.

Source: Tatoeba #332442 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhēn de shòu bù liǎoliǎo.我真的受不了了。

I just can't take it anymore.

Source: Tatoeba #8647815 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 真 in context

  1. Say zhēn, then recall the core meaning: real, actual, true, genuine.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 认真 (rèn zhēn), meaning “conscientious”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 真 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.