真 zhēn — real · English

真

zhēn

real

At a glance · 真

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「真」甲骨文从𠃊从目从八从鼎，小篆形变，本为仙人变形。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「真」本义为真实、本原，引申真诚、真性。

Structure

从𠂉、从目、从八、从𡈼，会意字，本为精诚真实、本原。

At a glance

Pinyinzhēn

Radical目

Strokes10

UnicodeU+771F

Character type会意

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English real real, actual, true, genuine

Français vrai / authentique Vrai, authentique. «守真志满» : le vrai, l'essentiel.

Español verdadero / auténtico Verdadero, auténtico. «守真志满»: lo verdadero, lo esencial.

العربية حقيقي / أصيل حقيقي، أصيل. «守真志满»: الحق، الجوهر.

Русский истинный / подлинный Истинный, подлинный. «守真志满»: истинное, сущность.

Common words

真实zhēn shíreal
真理zhēn lǐtruth

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