HSK 7-9
老实说
lǎoshí shuō
Honestly speaking; to be frank
Structure
老实说 + [Subject] + [Predicate/Opinion]
How it works
The phrase '老实说' is used as a sentence adverb to indicate that the speaker is expressing their true feelings, often before sharing an opinion that might be critical, unexpected, or blunt. It functions similarly to 'to be honest' or 'frankly speaking' in English, setting a sincere tone for the statement that follows.
Examples
老实说，我不认为这个方案在目前的市场上行得通。
Lǎoshí shuō, wǒ bù rènwéi zhège fāng'àn zài mùqián de shìchǎng shang xíngdetōng.
Honestly speaking, I don't think this plan will work in the current market.
他对我的评价，老实说，让我感到有些意外。
Tā duì wǒ de píngjià, lǎoshí shuō, ràng wǒ gǎndào yǒuxiē yìwài.
His evaluation of me, to be frank, made me feel a bit surprised.
老实说，我还没完全准备好承担这么大的责任。
Lǎoshí shuō, wǒ hái méi wánquán zhǔnbèi hǎo chéngdān zhème dà de zérèn.
To be honest, I'm not yet fully prepared to take on such a big responsibility.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse '老实说' with '说实话' (shuō shíhuà); while they are often interchangeable, '老实说' is slightly more formal and more commonly used as a parenthetical insertion.
Tip
In formal writing or high-level speeches, you can also use '坦率地说' (tǎnshuài de shuō) for an even more formal tone meaning 'frankly speaking'.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
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