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    Chinese Grammar

    Using 事实上 (shìshíshàng) to express "in fact"

    Connecting Ideas
    Emphasis

    Structure

    事实上，+ Statement

    Explanation

    事实上 (shìshíshàng) is an adverbial phrase meaning "in fact," "actually," or "as a matter of fact." It is used to introduce a statement that clarifies, corrects, or adds surprising information to a previous claim. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

    Examples

    • 他看起来很年轻，事实上他已经四十多岁了。

      Tā kàn qǐlái hěn niánqīng, shìshí shàng tā yǐjīng sìshí duō suì le.

      He looks very young, but in fact he is already over forty years old.

    • 大家都觉得这件事很简单，事实上困难重重。

      Dàjiā dōu juéde zhè jiàn shì hěn jiǎndān, shìshí shàng kùnnán chóngchóng.

      Everyone thought this matter was very simple, but in fact it was full of difficulties.

    • 事实上，我们早就知道了这个消息。

      Shìshí shàng, wǒmen zǎo jiù zhīdào le zhège xiāoxi.

      In fact, we knew about this news a long time ago.

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