genuine

Compared meaning: real, not fake or copied (adjective).

比较义项：真正的，不是假的或伪造的（形容词）。

• genuine 本词

  Describes something truly what it seems, often emotions or objects; plain, everyday register; can be used predicatively (is/was genuine).

  形容某事物确实如其所显现的那样，常用于情感或物品；语域平实、日常，可作表语（is/was genuine）。

  Her smile was genuine when she saw her old friend.

  她看到老朋友时，笑容是真诚的。

• authentic

  Emphasizes real and trustworthy, often implying a contrast with a copy or fake; strongly associated with cultural products such as food, art, or experiences.

  强调真实且值得信赖，常暗含与复制品或仿制品的对比；多与文化产品搭配，如食物、艺术品或体验。

  This restaurant serves authentic dishes from northern Italy.

  这家餐厅供应正宗的意大利北部菜肴。

• veritable

  Used attributively before a noun to emphasize a comparison, often in figurative or humorous expressions; formal and literary, never used alone to mean 'real'.

  通常用在名词前作定语，以强调某种比拟，常见于比喻或幽默的表达中；语域正式、书面化，不能单独表示“真实的”。

  The old attic was a veritable treasure trove of forgotten family photos.

  那间旧阁楼简直就是一个被遗忘的家庭照片的宝库。

Genuine, authentic and veritable all mean real, not fake. Genuine describes emotions that are truly what they seem, in plain language. Authentic stresses trustworthy realness, often contrasted with a copy, especially for culture or food. Veritable is literary, placed before a noun for emphasis.

这三个词都表示“真实的、非伪造的”，但语气和用法不同：genuine 多用于描述情感、态度或物品的真实性，语气平实；authentic 强调经过检验、值得信赖的真实性，常用于文化、饮食、体验等场合；veritable 语气夸张、书面化，常放在名词前起强调作用，相当于“名副其实的”。

Compared meaning: matching the facts; really existing (adjective).

比较义项：真实的，符合事实的（形容词）。

• true

  Describes statements, facts, or stories that match reality; typically used in the pattern 'it is true that...' or 'a true story'; the opposite of false.

  用来形容符合事实的陈述、事实或故事，常用于“it is true that...”或“a true story”这样的搭配；与“false（虚假的）”相对。

  It is true that she won first place in the contest.

  她在比赛中获得第一名，这是真的。

• actual

  Describes the real, verified fact or figure as opposed to an estimate, plan, or belief; common right before nouns like cost, number, or reason.

  指经核实的真实数字或事实，而不是估计、计划或猜测的结果；常放在 cost（费用）、number（数字）、reason（原因）等名词前。

  The actual cost of the trip was higher than we expected.

  这次旅行的实际费用比我们预计的要高。

• real

  The broadest and most everyday word; describes people, things, or feelings that truly exist and are not fake, artificial, or imagined.

  是最常用、最口语化的词，形容真实存在、并非虚假、人造或想象出来的人、事物或感受。

  The flowers looked so real that I had to touch them to check.

  那些花看起来太逼真了，我不得不摸一摸才能确认。

• genuine 本词

  Emphasizes authenticity and sincerity; used for emotions, relationships, or products that are not fake, counterfeit, or put on for show.

  强调真实性与真诚，用来形容并非虚假、假冒或做作的情感、关系或产品。

  Her smile was genuine when she saw her old friend.

  她见到老朋友时，笑容是真诚的。

True, actual, real and genuine all mean matching the facts. True: matches reality, opposite of false. Actual: the real, verified fact, not an estimate, often with cost or number. Real: the broadest word for what truly exists. Genuine: sincere and authentic, not fake or counterfeit.

这四个词在“符合事实、真实存在”这一义项上意思相近但语气和用法不同：true 侧重陈述或事实为真，actual 强调与估计、计划相对的确切事实，real 是最通用、最口语化的“真实（非人造、非想象）”，genuine 则强调真诚、非仿冒。这里不比较 true 表示“忠诚的”（如 a true friend）的用法，也不比较 real 作口语副词表示“非常”（如 real nice）的用法。

Compared meaning: honest and coming from real feeling (adjective).

比较义项：真诚的、发自内心的（不虚假）（形容词）。

• genuine 本词

  Genuine describes a feeling or reaction that is real and not faked, often modifying words like smile, surprise or interest; it contrasts directly with something put on or fake.

  genuine 描述真实、没有伪装的情感或反应，常修饰 smile（微笑）、surprise（惊讶）、interest（兴趣）等词；与“假装的、做作的”形成直接对比。

  His surprise looked completely genuine, not staged for the cameras at all.

  他的惊讶看起来完全是真实的，绝不是为镜头摆拍的。

• sincere

  Sincere stresses honesty of intention in speech, especially in fixed phrases such as apology, thanks or wish; it focuses on what someone says rather than raw emotion.

  sincere 强调言语中意图的诚实，常见于固定搭配，如 apology（道歉）、thanks（感谢）、wish（祝愿），侧重的是“说的话”而非纯粹的情感。

  Please accept my sincere apologies for the confusion this delay has caused.

  请接受我诚挚的歉意，为这次延误造成的困扰道歉。

• earnest

  Earnest describes a serious, determined manner or effort rather than just honesty; it pairs with nouns like attempt, effort or request and can sound slightly formal.

  earnest 描述的是严肃、认真投入的态度或努力，而不只是诚实；常与 attempt（尝试）、effort（努力）、request（请求）等名词搭配，语气略显正式。

  He made an earnest effort to fix his mistake before the deadline.

  他在截止日期之前，认真努力地想要弥补自己的错误。

• heartfelt

  Heartfelt emphasizes deep emotional feeling rather than honesty or effort; it is mainly formal or literary, used with nouns like thanks, sympathy or a letter, never with actions.

  heartfelt 强调情感的深厚，而不是诚实或努力；用法较为正式或书面化，常与 thanks（感谢）、sympathy（同情）、letter（信）等名词搭配，不用于修饰具体行动。

  She wrote a heartfelt letter thanking her teacher for years of support.

  她写了一封发自内心的信，感谢老师多年来的支持。

Genuine, sincere, earnest and heartfelt all mean honest, from real feeling. Genuine: a feeling that is real, not faked, like a smile. Sincere: honesty in speech, as in apologies or thanks. Earnest: a serious, determined manner or effort. Heartfelt: deep emotion, formal, used with thanks.

这四个词在表示“真诚、发自内心”时容易混淆，但语气和侧重点不同：genuine 强调情感或反应是真实的、没有伪装；sincere 强调言语或态度诚实可信，常用于道歉、感谢等固定搭配；earnest 强调态度严肃认真、努力用心；heartfelt 强调感情深厚、发自内心，多用于书面或正式场合。这里不比较 genuine 用于物品时表示“真货、非仿制品”的用法（如 genuine leather）。