Usage note
认真表示做事仔细、专心。
rèn zhēn biǎo shì zuò shì zǐ xì 、 zhuān xīn。
Serious means doing things carefully and attentively.
Context note
认真常出现在学习、工作和态度里。
rèn zhēn cháng chū xiàn zài xué xí 、 gōng zuò hé tài dù lǐ。
Serious often appears in learning, work, and attitude.
5 examples
他学习很认真。
tā xué xí hěn rèn zhēn。
He studies very seriously.
请认真听。
qǐng rèn zhēn tīng。
Please listen carefully.
我认真写字。
wǒ rèn zhēn xiě zì。
I write carefully.
她做事很认真。
tā zuò shì hěn rèn zhēn。
She does things very carefully.
认真一点。
rèn zhēn yì diǎn。
Be more serious.
5 mini stories
老师说写字要认真，不能马虎。
lǎo shī shuō xiě zì yào rèn zhēn， bù néng mǎ hǔ。
The teacher said writing should be careful and not sloppy.
他做作业很认真，所以常常得好分数。
tā zuò zuò yè hěn rèn zhēn， suǒ yǐ cháng cháng dé hǎo fēn shù。
He does homework very carefully, so he often gets good scores.
我认真听老师讲课。
wǒ rèn zhēn tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè。
I listen carefully to the teacher's lesson.
认真做事的人，大家都喜欢。
rèn zhēn zuò shì de rén， dà jiā dōu xǐ huan。
People who work carefully are liked by everyone.
这次练习我会认真完成。
zhè cì liàn xí wǒ huì rèn zhēn wán chéng。
I will complete this practice carefully.
Mini dialogue
写作业
A
你在做什么？
Nǐ zài zuò shénme?
What are you doing?
B
我在认真写作业。
Wǒ zài rènzhēn xiě zuòyè.
I am doing my homework seriously.
上课
A
老师为什么表扬小明？
Lǎoshī wèishénme biǎoyáng Xiǎo Míng?
Why did the teacher praise Xiao Ming?
B
因为他听课很认真。
Yīnwèi tā tīngkè hěn rènzhēn.
Because he listens very seriously in class.
Related words and contrasts
similar
仔细
zǐ xì
careful; attentive
仔细 focuses on being careful with details; 认真 is about a serious attitude.
opposite
马虎
mǎ hu
careless
马虎 is the opposite of 认真, meaning not taking things seriously.