实事求是shí shì qiú shìfig. to be practical and realistic

1. 1.

   fig. to be practical and realisticidiom

2. 2.

   lit. to seek truth from facts (idiom)idiom

Figurative meaning

To be practical and realistic.

Literal meaning

To seek truth from facts.

• 实real
• 事matter
• 求to seek
• 是correct; right; true

The story

Liu De, King Xian of Hejian, was enthroned in the second year of Emperor Jing's first era; he cultivated learning, loved antiquity, and sought truth from actual facts.

实事求是 can describe judging a situation or solving a problem based on the actual facts.

1. HSK 3

   我们要实事求是地解决问题。

   Wǒmen yào shí shì qiú shì de jiějué wèntí.

   We should solve problems in a practical and realistic way.

2. HSK 5

   老师说，写报告要实事求是。

   Lǎoshī shuō, xiě bàogào yào shí shì qiú shì.

   The teacher said a report should stick to the facts.

3. HSK 5

   他根据数据实事求是地分析了情况。

   Tā gēnjù shùjù shí shì qiú shì de fēnxī le qíngkuàng.

   He analyzed the situation realistically based on the data.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   这次的结果不太好，怎么写报告？

   Zhè cì de jiéguǒ bú tài hǎo, zěnme xiě bàogào?

   This result isn't very good. How should I write the report?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   实事求是，有什么问题就写什么问题。

   Shí shì qiú shì, yǒu shénme wèntí jiù xiě shénme wèntí.

   Stick to the facts. Write down whatever problems there are.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   那老师会不会不高兴？

   Nà lǎoshī huì bu huì bù gāoxìng?

   Then won't the teacher be unhappy?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   不会，老师喜欢认真的态度。

   Bú huì, lǎoshī xǐhuan rènzhēn de tàidù.

   No, the teacher likes a serious attitude.

1. 1.What does 实事求是 mean?

   ATo be practical and realisticBTo ask for many thingsCTo finish work quickly
2. 2.Which sentence uses 实事求是 correctly?

   A写报告要实事求是。B这杯茶很实事求是。C我实事求是地睡觉了。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 他根据数据____地分析了情况。 (He analyzed the situation realistically based on the data.)

   A实事求是B闭月羞花C脱颖而出

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Related idioms

• 刻舟求剑kè zhōu qiú jiànan action made pointless by changed circumstancesHSK 7–9
• 名副其实míng fù qí shínot just in name only, but also in realityHSK 7–9
• 脚踏实地jiǎo tà shí dìto have one's feet firmly planted on the ground (idiom); realistic without flights of fancyHSK 7–9
• 缘木求鱼yuán mù qiú yúto attempt the impossibleNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9

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