认真 rèn zhēn
“conscientious; earnest; serious”
adjective, adverbial adjectiveHSK 3 · 2021 list level 1Traditional 認真
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
认真 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 817: 认真 rènzhēn — Level 3; official annotation 3 (形). PDF page 100
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 认真
认真 describes an earnest, serious, conscientious attitude toward work, study, or a task. It is often used before a verb, as in 认真学习 or 认真工作, or after 很 as a predicate, as in 他很认真; 认真地 + verb means doing something seriously and carefully. It can also be a verb meaning "take seriously," as in 你别认真，他是开玩笑的.
例句Example sentences
- 他学习很认真。tā xué xí hěn rèn zhēn.He studies very seriously.
- 我们要认真工作。wǒ men yào rèn zhēn gōng zuò.We should work seriously.
- 她认真地听老师说话。tā rèn zhēn de tīng lǎo shī shuō huà.She listened to the teacher attentively.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗他是一个很认真。
✓他是一个很认真的人。
After 一个, complete the noun phrase with adjective + 的 + noun: 一个很认真的人.
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✗我认真你说话。
✓我认真听你说话。
认真 here cannot take the clause 你说话 as its object; use it before a verb such as 听.