‘实际’ (shí jì) is an adjective meaning ‘actual,’ ‘real,’ or ‘practical.’ It combines the characters 实 (shí), meaning ‘true,’ ‘genuine,’ or ‘substantial,’ and 际 (jì), which often conveys ‘boundary,’ ‘scope,’ or ‘realm’ — together suggesting ‘the realm of reality’ or ‘what truly exists in practice.’

The word emphasizes concrete facts over theory, assumptions, or ideals. It’s commonly used to contrast what is real versus what is expected, imagined, or proposed — for example, discussing actual outcomes versus plans, or practical solutions versus abstract ideas. It frequently appears before nouns (e.g., 实际情况, ‘actual situation’) or after verbs like 是 or 有 (e.g., 这不符合实际情况, ‘This doesn’t match the actual situation’). While it can function as a noun in formal contexts (e.g., ‘in practice’), its primary role for learners is adjectival.