现实 (xiàn shí) — reality in Mandarin
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#906 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
现实 is pronounced xiàn shí. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Wǒmen bì xū miàn duì xiàn shí.
We must face reality.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 现实 mean?+
现实 (xiàn shí) means "reality" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 现实?+
现实 is pronounced xiàn shí. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 现实 in Mandarin?+
现实 is the #906 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 现实 fits
Every HSK 5 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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