其实 (qí shí) — actually; in fact; really in Mandarin
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#422 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
其实 is pronounced qí shí. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Qíshí wǒ hěn lèi.
Actually, I'm very tired.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 其实 mean?+
其实 (qí shí) means "actually; in fact; really" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 其实?+
其实 is pronounced qí shí. It uses the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 其实 in Mandarin?+
其实 is the #422 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 其实 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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