Key Facts
- Word: 진실 (jinsil), noun, Sino-Korean origin
- Register: Formal/literary; for everyday 'truth' people also say 사실.
- Hanja: 眞實 (眞 true + 實 real)
- Senses: truth; sincerity
Truth in Korean: What Does 진실 Mean?
진실 carries moral weight: the real, honest truth behind a story. It also means sincerity, and the adjective 진실하다 means "to be sincere". A plain, checkable fact is 사실, while a downright lie is 거짓. Reach for 진실 when you mean the truth that matters to people, not a number or a date.
How Do You Pronounce 진실?
The word is [진실]: the n of 진 and the sh-like sound of 실 are both clear. The final ㄹ is a quick touch of the tongue tip. With a vowel particle it links: 진실이 is read [진시리] and 진실을 is read [진시를].
Example Sentences with 진실
진실을 말해 주세요.
jinsireul malhae juseyo
Please tell the truth.
말해 주세요 is a polite request, "please tell me". 진실을 is the object, so the sentence asks for the honest account.
그 이야기는 진실이에요.
geu iyagineun jinsirieyo
That story is true.
이에요 is the copula after a consonant, and 이야기는 is the topic. The sentence calls a story true, not just accurate.
진실이 밝혀졌어요.
jinsiri balkyeojyeosseoyo
The truth was revealed.
밝혀졌어요 is a passive, "was revealed". 진실이 is read [진시리]. In the verb, ㄺ + ㅎ gives an aspirated k (bal-kyeo-jeo-sseo-yo), which the romanization balkyeojyeosseoyo shows.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Verbs of telling and revealing go naturally with 진실.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 진실을 말하다 | to tell the truth |
| 진실이 밝혀지다 | the truth is revealed |
| 진실하다 | to be sincere |
The Mistake to Avoid: Linking the Final ㄹ
Wrong: ✗ [진실이] with a separate ㄹ sound and a silent ㅇ
Correct: ✓ [진시리] with the ㄹ linked
When a vowel follows a final ㄹ, the ㄹ becomes the start of the next syllable. Stopping at 진실 before 이 breaks the word.
진실 Compared with Similar Words
진실 sits between the plain fact and its opposite.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 사실 | fact | Concrete facts. |
| 거짓 | lie | Opposite. |
| 진짜 | real | Casual 'real'. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
진실 is Sino-Korean, written 眞實 in hanja: 眞 means "true" and 實 means "real". True plus real gives the sense of ultimate honesty.
At Home: Asking about a Broken Cup
A roommate finds a broken cup after hearing conflicting accounts of what happened. The conversation starts with a serious request for honesty, then turns to concern about an injury.
Roommate A
진실을 말해 주세요. 이 컵을 깼어요?
jinsireul malhae juseyo. i keobeul kkaesseoyo?
Please tell the truth. Did you break this cup?
Roommate B
네. 제가 깼어요. 미안해요.
ne. jega kkaesseoyo. mianhaeyo.
Yes. I broke it. I am sorry.
Roommate A
다친 데는 없어요?
dachin deneun eopseoyo?
Are you hurt anywhere?
Roommate B
네, 괜찮아요.
ne, gwaenchanayo.
No, I am fine.
진실을 말해 주세요 makes the first question sound weighty: the speaker wants an honest account and may suspect someone has hidden something. For a simple question about a cup, 이 컵을 깼어요? alone would be enough. In the last reply, 네 acknowledges that the roommate is unhurt; the natural English answer to “Are you hurt?” is “No”.
Which Phrases Describe Finding out the Truth?
진실을 밝히다 means “to reveal or uncover the truth”. 밝히다 can mean making something bright, but here it means making hidden facts known. Compare the existing example 진실이 밝혀졌어요: the truth is the subject, and the sentence reports that it came to light without naming who uncovered it.
Two other useful combinations are 진실을 감추다, “to conceal the truth”, and 진실을 털어놓다, “to tell the truth openly” or “come clean”. 털어놓다 evokes shaking something out; with 진실, the meaning is disclosing what someone has kept inside. These combinations appear in the National Institute of Korean Language's entry for 진실.
Where Will You Hear 진실?
News reports and mystery dramas use 진실 when the question is what really happened behind an event. A character who wants to uncover a secret may seek 진실; a report giving a time, date or confirmed detail is more likely to frame that detail as 사실. The meanings overlap, so this is a guide to emphasis rather than a strict division.
In a personal conversation, 진실을 말해 주세요 can suggest that trust is at stake. The polite 주세요 softens the request, but the noun still makes it serious. For a surprised “Really?”, the short reaction 진짜요? is more conversational. 진실 names truth; it is not the usual stand-alone reaction to unexpected news.
Related Words for Honesty and Evidence
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 사실 | fact | Use when checking whether an event or statement is accurate. |
| 거짓말 | lie | Names a false statement; 거짓 is the broader idea of falsehood. |
| 진심 | sincere feelings | Useful when the focus is what someone honestly feels. |
| 솔직하다 | to be frank; honest | Describes speaking openly instead of hiding an opinion. |
The core vocabulary lesson for words 501–600 places 진실 alongside other abstract nouns, including responsibility and value. Pair the new words by purpose: 사실 helps you check an account, while 진심 helps you discuss whether a feeling is sincere.
Quick Self-Test
- How is the final ㄹ pronounced in 진실을?
- Does 진실을 밝히다 mean turning on a light?
- Which sounds more natural as a surprised “Really?”: 진실 or 진짜요?
Show answers
- It links to the following vowel: [진시를].
- No. It means revealing or uncovering the truth.
- 진짜요? 진실 is the noun “truth”.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is truth in Korean?
It is 진실 (jinsil), a formal or literary noun.
What is the difference between 진실 and 사실?
사실 is a plain fact, while 진실 carries sincerity or moral truth.
How do I say "tell the truth"?
Say 진실을 말하다.
How is 진실이 pronounced?
It is read [진시리], with the final ㄹ linked to the next syllable.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: learn 진실 with other abstract nouns in the core words 501–600 lesson.
- Index: the Korean words A to Z page lists every word entry, including truth.
- Practice: put 진실 on your cards with the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next word: future in Korean is the next word in this list.