实际 / 实际上

shíjì / shíjìshàng

Meaning

实际 is a noun or adjective: 1. Noun — “reality”, “the actual situation”. 2. Adjective — “actual”, “practical”. 实际上 is an adverb: “actually”, “in fact”.

1. 实际 as a noun

你(Nǐ)们(men)做(zuò)计(jì)划(huà)应(yīng)该(gāi)联(lián)系(xì)实(shí)际(jì)。

When making plans you should take the actual situation into account.

2. 实际 as an adjective

听(Tīng)说(shuō)你(nǐ)大(dà)学(xué)二(èr)年(nián)级(jí)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)就(jiù)开(kāi)始(shǐ)在(zài)广(guǎng)告(gào)公(gōng)司(sī)工(gōng)作(zuò)了(le)。

I hear you started working at an advertising company in your second year at university.

我(Wǒ)认(rèn)为(wéi)不(bù)会(huì)，实(shí)际(jì)工(gōng)作(zuò)能(néng)让(ràng)我(wǒ)更(gèng)理(lǐ)解(jiě)书(shū)本(běn)上(shàng)的(de)知(zhī)识(shi)。

I don't think so — practical work helps me understand what's in the books.

3. 实际上 as an adverb

It often marks the gap between what's expected and what's actually so.

要(Yào)想(xiǎng)别(bié)人(rén)对(duì)你(nǐ)好(hǎo)，你(nǐ)得(děi)先(xiān)对(duì)别(bié)人(rén)好(hǎo)。

If you want others to treat you well, treat them well first.

实(Shí)际(jì)上(shàng)，我(wǒ)们(men)很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)做(zuò)不(bù)到(dào)这(zhè)一(yī)点(diǎn)。

In fact, many of us fail to do this.

实际 vs. 实际上

实际 → a noun or adjective: 实际情况, 实际工作. 实际上 → an adverb: 实际上不是这样。

实际 → the actual, practical situation. 现实 → reality, real life: 现实生活.