xiěshí: 写实 - Realistic, Realism

• Keywords: 写实, xieshi, xiěshí, Chinese realism, realistic Chinese art, realistic literature, Chinese for realistic, write reality, describe realistically, lifelike, true to life.
• Summary: 写实 (xiěshí) is a Chinese term meaning “realistic” or “realism,” primarily used to describe a style in art, literature, or film that aims to represent subjects truthfully, without idealization or artificiality. Literally translating to “write/draw reality,” it refers to a detailed, lifelike portrayal of the world. Understanding 写实 is key to discussing modern Chinese art and literature, and it's also used in everyday conversation to describe any unembellished, accurate depiction of a situation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiěshí
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: Advanced / HSK 6+
• Concise Definition: To portray something realistically; realism.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a painter who captures every wrinkle on a person's face or a writer who describes the gritty details of city life. That's 写实. It's the artistic principle of “telling it like it is” or “showing it as it is.” The focus is on accuracy and faithfulness to the real world, standing in direct opposition to abstract, romanticized, or fantastical styles.

• 写 (xiě): To write; to draw; to describe. This character depicts a roof (宀) over another component, suggesting an indoor activity of recording or creating. It's the fundamental character for written and artistic expression.
• 实 (shí): Real; true; solid; actual. This character also features a roof (宀) over a component (贯) that originally symbolized a string of coins. The combined image suggests something of real substance and value kept safely inside.
• The two characters combine literally to mean “to write/draw the real.” This makes the word's meaning very transparent: the act of capturing reality through a medium like writing or painting.

The concept of 写实 (xiěshí) holds a unique place in Chinese culture, especially when contrasted with both traditional Chinese art and Western notions of realism. Traditionally, Chinese ink wash painting (水墨画, shuǐmòhuà) often prioritized a different concept: 写意 (xiěyì), which means “to write the idea/spirit.” The goal was not to create a photorealistic copy of a mountain, but to capture its essence, its spirit, and the artist's feeling towards it. Therefore, the rise of 写实 as a prominent style in the 20th century marked a significant shift in Chinese artistic philosophy, heavily influenced by Western art. This shift was powerfully cemented after 1949 with the promotion of Socialist Realism (社会主义写实主义). Unlike Western realism, which was often a tool for social critique from an individual artist's perspective, Socialist Realism was a state-sponsored artistic doctrine. Its purpose was to create art that was easily understood by the masses and which glorified the revolution, the proletariat, and the nation's progress. While technically “realistic” in style, it was often highly idealized in its subject matter. Today, contemporary Chinese artists continue to explore and challenge the meaning of 写实, from the hyper-realism that critiques modern consumerism to the cynical realism that depicts the absurdities of urban life. For a learner, understanding 写实 isn't just about knowing a style; it's about recognizing a major ideological and artistic current in modern Chinese history.

写实 is most commonly used in discussions about art, but its meaning extends to other areas.

• In Art, Literature, and Film: This is its primary domain. You can describe a painting, a novel, or a movie as “very realistic” (很写实, hěn xiěshí). It implies a high level of detail and a non-idealized representation.
• In Everyday Description: It can be used more broadly to praise someone's accurate and unvarnished description of an event or situation. If a friend tells you a story about a difficult meeting, capturing the awkwardness and tension perfectly, you might say, “Your description is so realistic!” (你描述得真写实!).
• Connotation and Formality: The term is generally neutral to positive, often carrying an implication of skill, honesty, and insight. It is suitable for both formal art critiques and informal conversations.

• Example 1:
  • 这位画家的风格非常写实，连人物皮肤上的毛孔都画出来了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi huàjiā de fēnggé fēicháng xiěshí, lián rénwù pífū shàng de máokǒng dōu huà chūlái le.
  • English: This artist's style is extremely realistic; he even painted the pores on the characters' skin.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 写实 to describe a detailed and lifelike artistic style.
• Example 2:
  • 我更喜欢写实小说，因为它能反映真实的生活。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gèng xǐhuān xiěshí xiǎoshuō, yīnwèi tā néng fǎnyìng zhēnshí de shēnghuó.
  • English: I prefer realistic novels because they can reflect real life.
  • Analysis: Here, 写实 is used as an adjective to classify a genre of literature.
• Example 3:
  • 这部电影太写实了，把战争的残酷表现得淋漓尽致。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng tài xiěshí le, bǎ zhànzhēng de cánkù biǎoxiàn dé línlí jìnzhì.
  • English: This movie is too realistic; it vividly portrays the cruelty of war.
  • Analysis: Shows that 写实 can describe something so accurate that it becomes intense or difficult to watch. The “too” (太) implies an emotional reaction.
• Example 4:
  • 他的报告对公司的现状进行了写实的描绘，没有回避任何问题。
  • Pinyin: Tā de bàogào duì gōngsī de xiànzhuàng jìnxíng le xiěshí de miáohuì, méiyǒu huíbì rènhé wèntí.
  • English: His report gave a realistic depiction of the company's current situation, not avoiding any problems.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use outside of art to mean an unvarnished, truthful description in a business context.
• Example 5:
  • 从艺术上讲，写实是写意的对立面。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yìshù shàng jiǎng, xiěshí shì xiěyì de duìlìmiàn.
  • English: Artistically speaking, realism is the opposite of impressionistic/spiritual expression (xieyi).
  • Analysis: Here, 写实 is used as a noun (“realism”) and is placed in its key cultural context, contrasting it with the traditional Chinese concept of 写意 (xiěyì).
• Example 6:
  • 这张照片非常写实，完全没有使用滤镜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn fēicháng xiěshí, wánquán méiyǒu shǐyòng lǜjìng.
  • English: This photograph is very realistic; it doesn't use any filters at all.
  • Analysis: A modern, relatable example applying the concept to photography and social media trends.
• Example 7:
  • 你刚才对那个客户的模仿真是太写实了！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ gāngcái duì nàge kèhù de mófǎng zhēnshi tài xiěshí le!
  • English: Your impression of that client just now was so true-to-life!
  • Analysis: A conversational and informal use, where 写实 means “lifelike” or “spot-on” when describing an imitation.
• Example 8:
  • 很多年轻导演开始尝试用一种新的写实手法来拍摄城市生活。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīng dǎoyǎn kāishǐ chángshì yòng yī zhǒng xīn de xiěshí shǒufǎ lái pāishè chéngshì shēnghuó.
  • English: Many young directors are beginning to try a new realistic technique to film urban life.
  • Analysis: This shows how 写实 can be combined with other nouns like 手法 (shǒufǎ, technique) to be more specific.
• Example 9:
  • 虽然故事是虚构的，但作者对人性的刻画非常写实。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán gùshì shì xūgòu de, dàn zuòzhě duì rénxìng de kèhuà fēicháng xiěshí.
  • English: Although the story is fictional, the author's portrayal of human nature is very realistic.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a key nuance: the subject matter can be fictional, but the style of its portrayal is 写实.
• Example 10:
  • 他把自己的失败经历讲得太写实了，听得我们都有点儿难受。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ zìjǐ de shībài jīnglì jiǎng dé tài xiěshí le, tīng dé wǒmen dōu yǒudiǎnr nánshòu.
  • English: He described his experience of failure so realistically that it made us all feel a bit uncomfortable.
  • Analysis: Similar to example 3, this shows the negative emotional impact of a portrayal that is brutally honest or “too real.”

• “Realistic” (in art) vs. “Realistic” (practical): This is the most common pitfall for English speakers. 写实 means “realistic” in an artistic or descriptive sense (lifelike, true to life). It cannot be used to mean “realistic” in the sense of being practical, sensible, or achievable.
  • Incorrect: 这个计划很写实。 (Zhège jìhuà hěn xiěshí.) - This plan is very realistic.
  • Correct: 这个计划很实际。 (Zhège jìhuà hěn shíjì.) or 这个计划很现实。 (Zhège jìhuà hěn xiànshí.)
• 写实 (xiěshí) vs. 真实 (zhēnshí): This is a subtle but important distinction.
  • 真实 (zhēnshí) means “true,” “real,” or “authentic.” It refers to something that factually happened or exists. A news report should be 真实.
  • 写实 (xiěshí) refers to a style of portrayal. A fictional story can be told in a 写实 style.
  • Example: 这是一个真实的故事 (This is a true story). The movie about this story was filmed in a very 写实 style (这部电影拍得非常写实).

• 现实主义 (xiànshí zhǔyì) - The formal, academic term for “Realism” as a literary or artistic movement/ideology. 写实 is the more common adjective.
• 写意 (xiěyì) - The direct artistic antonym. It means to capture the spirit or essence rather than the literal form, and is a core concept in traditional Chinese painting.
• 抽象 (chōuxiàng) - Antonym: “abstract.” An abstract painting is the opposite of a 写实 one.
• 逼真 (bīzhēn) - A close synonym meaning “lifelike” or “true to life.” It's often used for visuals, like a sculpture or a special effect, emphasizing how it almost fools the eye.
• 纪实 (jìshí) - “Documentary,” “non-fiction.” This refers to recording actual events, like a documentary film (纪录片, jìlùpiàn) or reportage literature (纪实文学, jìshí wénxué). It's about factual content, whereas 写实 is about realistic style.
• 夸张 (kuāzhāng) - Antonym: “exaggerated,” “hyperbole.” The opposite of a realistic portrayal.
• 真实 (zhēnshí) - “True,” “real” (in a factual sense). A key term to distinguish from the stylistic meaning of 写实.
• 现实 (xiànshí) - “Reality,” “actual.” As an adjective, it means “realistic” in the practical/pragmatic sense (e.g., a realistic goal).