Meaning
老实 describes someone who is honest, straightforward, and sincere in their behavior and words. It can also mean someone who is obedient, compliant, or even naive. The word carries a generally positive connotation when describing honesty, but can sometimes imply someone is too simple or easily taken advantage of.
Usage
Native speakers use 老实 to describe people who are genuine and don't engage in trickery or deception. It's often used to praise children who behave well (老实的孩子) or to describe someone's straightforward character. However, 老实人 (honest person) can sometimes carry a slight undertone of being too naive or easily bullied in society.
Examples
- 01他是一个很老实的人，从不说谎。, .He is a very honest person and never lies.
- 02老实说，我不太喜欢这个计划。, .To be honest, I don't really like this plan.
Characters
Common collocations
- 老实人honest person
- 老老实实honestly, obediently
- 说老实话to speak honestly, to tell the truth
- 老实交代to confess honestly
Antonyms
Origin
The character 老 (old) serves as an intensifier here, while 实 (solid, real) refers to being genuine and substantial. Together they emphasize someone being truly and completely honest or sincere.