AdverbsHSK 3

Expressing "actually" or "in fact" with 其实

其实 is used to indicate that something is true or to clarify a fact, often contrasting with a previous assumption or expectation.

It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence or after the subject to introduce the real situation.

Structure

其实 + Clause

Place at the start of a sentence to emphasize the real situation.

Subj. + 其实 + Verb Phrase

Insert after the subject to correct a misconception or reveal the truth.

其实这道题很简单。
Qí shí zhè dào tí hěn jiǎn dān.
Actually, this question is very simple.
我其实不太喜欢喝咖啡。
Wǒ qí shí bú tài xǐ huan hē kā fēi.
Actually, I don't really like drinking coffee.
他看起来很凶，其实人很好。
Tā kàn qǐ lái hěn xiōng, qí shí rén hěn hǎo.
He looks fierce, but in fact he's a very nice person.
其实我昨天没去医院。
Qí shí wǒ zuó tiān méi qù yī yuàn.
In fact, I didn't go to the hospital yesterday.
大家都说他很聪明，其实他很努力。
Dà jiā dōu shuō tā hěn cōng ming, qí shí tā hěn nǔ lì.
Everyone says he's smart, but actually he just works very hard.