Expressing “In Fact” with “qíshí”
其实
How it works
其实 (qíshí) means “actually,” “in fact,” or “as a matter of fact.” It is used when the speaker wants to reveal the real situation, correct a misunderstanding, or add information that changes the listener’s view.
It often introduces a contrast between appearance and reality, or between what others think and what is actually true.
Example sentences
大家都以为他对这件事毫不在意，其实他心里一直放不下。
Everyone thought he did not care about this matter at all, but in fact he had never been able to let it go.
这份工作表面上看起来很轻松，其实真正做起来并不简单。
This job looks easy on the surface, but in fact it is not simple when actually done.
我刚才没说话，其实是在想怎么把问题表达得更清楚一点。
I did not speak just now; in fact, I was thinking about how to express the issue more clearly.
Key point
其实 (qíshí) often introduces a hidden truth, a correction, or a more accurate explanation.