這就是事實 / 这就是事实
zhè jiù shì shìshí
To say it is what it is in Chinese, you can use 這就是事實 / 这就是事实 (zhè jiù shì shìshí), meaning this is the reality. If unsure, use 這就是事實 / 这就是事实. Wiktionary also lists 就是這樣的 / 就是这样的 (jiùshìzhèyàngde).
Meaning: this thing has its own nature (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 這就是事實 / 这就是事实 | zhè jiù shì shìshí |
| 就是這樣的 / 就是这样的 | jiùshìzhèyàngde |
就是這樣 is a common way to express the same acceptance when a situation cannot be changed.
What does it mean word for word?
這就是事實 literally means this is the fact.
Which one should you use?
就是這樣的 / 就是这样的 describes the state of a situation, meaning it is just like this, while 這就是事實 stresses the truth or reality of it. 事实就是这样 means the same thing in a formal tone.
How do you pronounce it?
Say zhè jiù shì shìshí with falling tones on the first four syllables and a rising tone on the last.
Did you know?
- Chinese speakers often replace the concept of 'it is what it is' with the four-character idiom 順其自然 (shùn qí zì rán), which literally suggests following the natural flow of the universe.
- The word 事實 ('fact') consists of two characters meaning 'event' and 'truth'. In Chinese, the concept of a 'fact' is conceptually tied to the 'actual happening' of an event rather than just a piece of data.
- The character 就 (jiù) in these phrases is an intensifier that eliminates all other possibilities. It essentially tells the listener that no other version of reality exists except the one being described.
Examples in context
- 老师：抱歉，你的请求无法被批准。
学生：好吧，就这样吧。Teacher: Sorry, your request cannot be approved.
Student: Okay, it is what it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it is what it is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
