chéngshí: 诚实 - Honest, Truthful, Sincere

• Keywords: chengshi, 诚实, honest in Chinese, Chinese word for honesty, how to say truthful in Chinese, cheng shi meaning, Chinese character for sincerity, HSK 4 vocabulary, Chinese values, 诚, 实
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 诚实 (chéngshí), which means “honest,” “truthful,” and “sincere.” This page breaks down the characters 诚 and 实, explores the deep cultural value of honesty in China, and provides 10 practical example sentences. Discover how 诚实 (chéngshí) is more than just not telling lies—it's a fundamental virtue of integrity and reliability that is crucial in friendships, business, and daily life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chéngshí
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To be honest, truthful, and sincere; the quality of honesty.
• In a Nutshell: 诚实 (chéngshí) is the cornerstone concept of honesty in Chinese. It goes beyond the simple act of telling the truth. It describes a person whose words are aligned with their thoughts and actions, embodying sincerity, genuineness, and reliability. Someone who is 诚实 is not just truthful, but also dependable and has strong moral integrity.

• 诚 (chéng): This character is composed of two parts. The left side is 言 (yán), the radical for “speech” or “words.” The right side is 成 (chéng), which means “to complete” or “to succeed.” Together, they suggest “completed or whole speech”—words that are sincere, true, and without hidden meanings.
• 实 (shí): This character means “real,” “solid,” “true,” or “fact.” The top radical 宀 (mián) represents a “roof” or “house.” The lower part originally depicted valuables. The character thus evokes a sense of something being filled, solid, and substantial—not empty or fake.
• Together: The combination 诚实 (chéngshí) literally means “sincere and real” or “truthful and solid.” It beautifully captures the idea of a person whose character and words are authentic, reliable, and grounded in fact.

In Chinese culture, 诚实 (chéngshí) is not merely a desirable personality trait; it is a foundational pillar of morality, deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy. It is essential for becoming a 君子 (jūnzǐ), the ideal “noble person” or “gentleman,” who acts with integrity and righteousness. A key difference from the Western concept of “honesty” lies in its application. While Western culture sometimes champions “brutal honesty” or “telling it like it is,” 诚实 (chéngshí) in a Chinese context is almost always tempered by the concepts of 面子 (miànzi) (face, social dignity) and 和谐 (héxié) (harmony). Being 诚实 does not mean being blunt to the point of causing embarrassment or conflict. The challenge, and the art, is to be truthful while maintaining social harmony and respecting others' feelings. Therefore, *how* one expresses the truth is often as important as the truth itself. It's about building 信任 (xìnrèn) (trust) through reliable and sincere conduct, rather than just through frankness.

诚实 is a universally positive term used in many contexts:

• Personal Character: It's one of the highest compliments you can pay someone. Describing a person as 诚实 means they are trustworthy, sincere, and a good person at their core. The phrase 做人要诚实 (zuò rén yào chéngshí), “One must be an honest person,” is a common piece of wisdom passed down to children.
• Business and Formal Settings: In business, the related term 诚信 (chéngxìn) (integrity, good faith) is more common, but 诚实 is also used to describe a trustworthy partner or company. An honest approach is seen as the foundation for long-term cooperation.
• Daily Conversation: It's used to ask for truthfulness or to preface a frank statement. For example, 说实话 (shuō shíhuà), “to tell the truth,” is an extremely common phrase.

• Example 1:
  • 他是一个诚实的孩子。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yī gè chéngshí de háizi.
  • English: He is an honest child.
  • Analysis: A simple and direct use of 诚实 as an adjective to describe someone's character. This is a very common sentence structure.
• Example 2:
  • 我希望你能诚实地回答我的问题。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng chéngshí de huídá wǒ de wèntí.
  • English: I hope you can answer my question honestly.
  • Analysis: Here, 诚实地 (chéngshí de) is used as an adverb, modifying the verb “to answer” (回答). The particle `地 (de)` turns the adjective into an adverb.
• Example 3:
  • 诚实是中华民族的传统美德。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshí shì Zhōnghuá mínzú de chuántǒng měidé.
  • English: Honesty is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 诚实 as a noun, representing the abstract concept of honesty. It highlights the cultural importance of the term.
• Example 4:
  • 做一个诚实的人非常重要。
  • Pinyin: Zuò yī gè chéngshí de rén fēicháng zhòngyào.
  • English: Being an honest person is very important.
  • Analysis: A common phrase emphasizing the value of honesty in one's life and conduct (做人 zuò rén).
• Example 5:
  • 她诚实的态度给我留下了深刻的印象。
  • Pinyin: Tā chéngshí de tàidù gěi wǒ liúxiàle shēnkè de yìnxiàng.
  • English: Her honest attitude left a deep impression on me.
  • Analysis: 诚实 modifies “attitude” (态度 tàidù), showing that the person was genuine and forthright in their demeanor.
• Example 6:
  • 在商业世界里，诚实是合作的基础。
  • Pinyin: Zài shāngyè shìjiè lǐ, chéngshí shì hézuò de jīchǔ.
  • English: In the business world, honesty is the foundation of cooperation.
  • Analysis: This shows the application of the concept in a professional context, where it's valued as the basis for trust and partnership.
• Example 7:
  • 诚实地说，我不太喜欢这个计划。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshí de shuō, wǒ bù tài xǐhuān zhè ge jìhuà.
  • English: To be honest, I don't really like this plan.
  • Analysis: Similar to the English phrase “To be honest…” or “Honestly…”, this structure prefaces a frank opinion. A more common colloquial equivalent is 说实话 (shuō shíhuà).
• Example 8:
  • 他很诚实，从不欺骗朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn chéngshí, cóngbù qīpiàn péngyou.
  • English: He is very honest and never deceives his friends.
  • Analysis: This example contrasts 诚实 with its opposite, “to deceive” (欺骗 qīpiàn), reinforcing its meaning.
• Example 9:
  • 我们必须诚实地面对自己的缺点。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū chéngshí de miànduì zìjǐ de quēdiǎn.
  • English: We must honestly face our own shortcomings.
  • Analysis: This usage extends the meaning to being honest with oneself, implying self-awareness and integrity.
• Example 10:
  • 他的诚实赢得了大家的信任。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chéngshí yíngdéle dàjiā de xìnrèn.
  • English: His honesty won everyone's trust.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly links 诚实 (honesty) with its direct result: 信任 (xìnrèn) (trust).

• `诚实 (chéngshí)` vs. `老实 (lǎoshi)`: This is a crucial distinction for learners. While both can be translated as “honest,” 老实 (lǎoshi) can carry a secondary connotation of being simple, obedient, or even a bit naive and easy to take advantage of. 诚实 (chéngshí) is a purely positive word that implies strong moral integrity and sincerity.
  • Correct: 他很诚实，值得信任。(Tā hěn chéngshí, zhídé xìnrèn.) - He is very honest and trustworthy.
  • Nuanced: 他太老实了，总是被人欺负。(Tā tài lǎoshi le, zǒngshì bèi rén qīfu.) - He's too “honest” (naive/simple), he always gets bullied.
• `诚实` vs. Bluntness: English speakers should avoid equating 诚实 with “brutal honesty.” Directly criticizing someone's appearance or work without any buffer might be seen as rude (没礼貌 méi lǐmào), not honest. The goal of 诚实 is to build trust, not to simply state a raw, unfiltered fact that could cause someone to lose face.
• Incorrect Usage: Stating a harsh, subjective opinion and labeling it as `诚实` can sound unnatural and aggressive.
  • Awkward: 我诚实地认为你的新发型很难看。(Wǒ chéngshí de rènwéi nǐ de xīn fàxíng hěn nánkàn.) - “I honestly think your new hairstyle is very ugly.”
  • More Natural: A native speaker would likely avoid such a direct comment or soften it considerably, as this type of “honesty” disrupts social harmony.

• 诚信 (chéngxìn) - A more formal term, especially in business, meaning “integrity” or “good faith.” It combines sincerity (诚) with trustworthiness (信).
• 老实 (lǎoshi) - Honest, but can also mean well-behaved, simple-minded, or naive. Less about moral strength and more about simple nature.
• 真诚 (zhēnchéng) - Sincere, heartfelt. Emphasizes the genuine and true (真) nature of one's feelings or words.
• 坦白 (tǎnbái) - To be frank, to confess, or to come clean, usually about something negative or a secret.
• 说实话 (shuō shíhuà) - A very common verb phrase meaning “to tell the truth.” Used frequently in daily conversation.
• 正直 (zhèngzhí) - Upright, upstanding. Describes a person with strong moral principles who is not easily corrupted.
• 信任 (xìnrèn) - Trust, confidence. The positive outcome that being 诚实 helps to build.
• 谎言 (huǎngyán) - A lie, falsehood. The direct antonym of truth.
• 欺骗 (qīpiàn) - To deceive, to cheat. The act of being dishonest.