真话 literally means 'true speech' — combining 真 (zhēn), meaning 'true', 'genuine', or 'real', and 话 (huà), meaning 'words' or 'speech'. Together, they form a noun that refers to statements that accurately reflect reality — the truth, as opposed to lies, exaggerations, or evasions. It carries moral weight: telling 真话 is often associated with honesty, integrity, and courage, especially when doing so is difficult or inconvenient.

This word is commonly used in everyday conversation, moral education, and literature. It frequently appears in phrases like 说真话 (shuō zhēn huà, 'to tell the truth') or 听真话 (tīng zhēn huà, 'to hear the truth'). Unlike more formal terms like 实情 (shíqíng, 'the actual situation'), 真话 emphasizes the speaker’s sincerity and intention to be truthful, making it personal and relational — it’s about what someone chooses to say, not just factual accuracy.