认真
serious; conscientious; earnest
rènzhēn
What does 认真 mean?
认真 (rènzhēn) means 'serious, conscientious, earnest' — describing someone who treats a task with full attention and care. Literally 认 'recognize' + 真 'real / true,' i.e. 'to take as real.' It is the standard compliment for a diligent worker, a careful student, a thorough employee.
Differences from English: 认真 is NOT 'serious' in the somber/grave sense (that's 严肃 yánsù) — it's about effort and care. Saying 他工作很认真 means 'he works conscientiously,' not 'he is grim at work.' Also used in the phrase 别认真 / 你别太认真 ('don't take it seriously') when someone is overreacting to a joke. The opposite is 马虎 (mǎhu, careless / sloppy). Often used adverbially: 认真地学 'to study earnestly.'
Note: One of the highest praise words for work, study, or attitude in Chinese. A 认真的人 is someone who takes things seriously, pays attention to detail, and doesn't cut corners.
Character breakdown
to recognize; to acknowledge
real; true
Memory hook: 认 (recognize) + 真 (real) — to take something AS real / serious = conscientious.
Example sentences
他学习很认真。
Tā xuéxí hěn rènzhēn.
He studies very conscientiously.
spoken
请认真听老师讲课。
Qǐng rènzhēn tīng lǎoshī jiǎngkè.
Please listen carefully to the teacher.
neutral
我只是开玩笑，你别太认真。
Wǒ zhǐshì kāi wánxiào, nǐ bié tài rènzhēn.
I was just joking — don't take it too seriously.
spoken
她做每件事都很认真。
Tā zuò měi jiàn shì dōu hěn rènzhēn.
She does everything conscientiously.
neutral
认真一点，这次考试很重要。
Rènzhēn yìdiǎn, zhè cì kǎoshì hěn zhòngyào.
Be more serious — this exam is important.
spoken
Common phrases with 认真
Hear it in real Fluentide episodes
认真 appears in 3 podcast episodes at natural native speed, with full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Synonyms
仔细 emphasizes 'careful, detail-oriented' in the moment of doing something — checking for mistakes. 认真 is the broader attitude of taking things seriously. 仔细看 = look carefully (this time); 认真看 = view with full attention/seriousness.
严肃 is 'serious / grave / solemn' — about mood and tone, often somber. 认真 is about effort and conscientiousness. A 严肃的老师 is stern; a 认真的老师 is conscientious. Different positive/neutral connotations.