实话实说

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"实话实说" is a common Chinese expression used to introduce a statement of honesty or frankness. It literally means "to speak the truth frankly." It is often used at the beginning of a sentence to signal that the speaker is about to share their genuine opinion or a candid fact.

Pragmatic Effect

Using "实话实说" softens the impact of potentially sensitive or critical remarks by framing them as honest and sincere. It can help build trust or prepare the listener for straightforward feedback.

Common Collocations

Register and Tone

This phrase is informal to neutral and widely used in spoken Mandarin. It is suitable in casual conversations, workplace discussions, and media interviews.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse "实话实说" with simply "实话"; while both mean "to tell the truth," "实话实说" emphasizes frankness and is often more emphatic.

Example Sentences

To be honest, I don't like this movie.

Honestly speaking, this plan has many problems that need to be solved.

To tell the truth, I think he is not suitable for this position.