actually; in fact
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
actually; in fact; as a matter of fact
Used to reveal the true situation that contrasts with appearances, assumptions, or surface statements. Often appears in the pattern '表面上...，实则是...'.
Tā他
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
zàn赞
chéng成
，
shí实
zé则
shì是
fū敷
yǎn衍
dà大
jiā家
。
He appeared to agree, but was actually just going through the motions with everyone.
Zhè这
kàn看
sì似
jiǎn简
dān单
，
shí实
zé则
xū需
yào要
hěn很
duō多
jì技
qiǎo巧
。
This looks simple, but actually requires a lot of skill.
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Tā他
míng名
yì义
shàng上
shì是
gù顾
wèn问
，
shí实
zé则
shì是
gōng公
sī司
de的
zhēn真
zhèng正
zhǎng掌
kòng控
zhě者
。
He is nominally a consultant, but actually the real controller of the company.
Shí实
zé则
bù不
rán然
，
zhēn真
xiàng相
yuǎn远
bǐ比
nǐ你
xiǎng想
xiàng象
de的
fù复
zá杂
。
Actually, that is not the case; the truth is far more complicated than you imagined.