诚实 (chénɡshí) — honest / honesty
HSK 4 | adjective | honest; truthful; sincere
诚实 (chéngshí)
诚实 means honest or truthful, describing a person who says what they truly think and does not deceive others.
Meanings
- [adjective] honest; truthful; sincere; straightforward
Example Sentences
诚实是最重要的品质之一。 Chéngshí shì zuì zhòngyào de pǐnzhì zhī yī. Honesty is one of the most important qualities.
你应该诚实地告诉他真相。 Nǐ yīnggāi chéngshí de gàosù tā zhēnxiàng. You should honestly tell him the truth.
他是一个非常诚实的人，从不说谎。 Tā shì yīgè fēicháng chéngshí de rén, cóng bù sāhuǎng. He is a very honest person who never lies.
诚实的态度会赢得别人的信任。 Chéngshí de tàidu huì yíngdé biérén de xìnrèn. An honest attitude will earn the trust of others.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 诚实的人 (chéngshí de rén) | an honest person |
| 诚实回答 (chéngshí huídá) | to answer honestly |
| 诚实守信 (chéngshí shǒuxìn) | honest and trustworthy |
| 诚实待人 (chéngshí dài rén) | to treat others honestly |
Usage Notes
诚实 is a core virtue in Chinese culture and frequently appears in discussions of character, education, and professional ethics. Its antonym is 虚伪 (xūwěi) or 说谎 (sāhuǎng, to lie). The phrase 诚实守信 is a common four-character idiom used in formal settings to describe integrity.
Memory Hook
诚 (sincere/genuine) + 实 (real/true) — to be honest is to be both sincere and real, with no gap between what you feel and what you say.