true

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

比较义项：真实的，符合事实的（形容词）。

• true 本词

  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

  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: loyal and devoted to someone or something (adjective).

比较义项：忠诚的、忠实的（形容词）。

• true 本词

  More literary or old-fashioned than loyal; typically appears in the fixed phrase 'true to' (a promise, one's word, oneself) rather than describing a person directly.

  比 loyal 更文学化、略显古雅；通常出现在「true to」这类固定搭配中（对承诺、诺言、自己），而不是直接用来描述一个人。

  He has always been true to his word, no matter the cost.

  无论付出什么代价，他始终忠于自己的诺言。

• loyal

  The most common, neutral word for steady support or allegiance; used broadly for people, friends, customers, countries, or organizations, without implying romantic fidelity.

  是表示坚定支持或效忠最常见、最中性的词；广泛用于人、朋友、顾客、国家或组织，不带爱情或婚姻忠贞的意味。

  The company rewards its loyal customers with special discounts every year.

  这家公司每年都会给忠诚的顾客提供特别折扣。

• faithful

  Emphasizes constancy over time and reliability, especially in personal relationships such as marriage or friendship, or a follower or pet remaining devoted; more emotionally warm than loyal.

  强调长期保持的忠贞与可靠，尤其用于婚姻、友情等人际关系，或追随者、宠物始终如一的忠诚；语气比 loyal 更带情感色彩。

  He remained faithful to his wife for fifty years of marriage.

  他与妻子结婚五十年，一直对她忠贞不渝。

True, loyal, and faithful all describe devotion, but differ: true is literary, used in 'true to' a promise. Loyal is the most common, neutral word, for friends, customers, or countries. Faithful stresses constancy over time, in relationships like marriage. Not compared: true meaning 'correct'.

这三个词都表示对某人或某事物忠诚，但语气和适用场合不同：true 语气较文学化，常用于「true to」这类固定搭配（如对承诺、诺言）；loyal 是最常用、最中性的词，可用于人、顾客、国家等；faithful 强调长期保持忠贞与可靠，常用于夫妻、朋友或宠物。这里不比较 true 的「真实的」义项，也不比较 faithful 的「详确的、可靠的」义项（如忠实的译本）。