Correct

确实 vs 真实 vs 实在

/ quèshí vs zhēnshí vs shízài /
Strokes

Definition

确实, 真实 and 实在 are all Adjectives, which means “true; reliable; real, in fact”.

Example

确实 means "really so", 实在 also has a similar meaning (as an adverbial).
1
Jīnnián
今年
xiàtiān
夏天
quèshí
确实
  
(
shízài
实在
  
)
  

It was really hot this summer.

2
chuān
穿
zhè
shēn
fu
衣服
quèshí
确实
  
(
shízài
实在
  
)
hǎokàn
好看
  

You looks very ugly in this dress.

3
Zhè
shì
quèshí
确实
de
xiāoxi
消息
  

This is reliable/certain news.

确实 used as an attributive, predicate, etc. means "information, situation reliable", it cannot be replaced by 实在.
4
Zhè
shì
quèshí
确实
de
xiāoxi
消息
  

This is reliable news.

5
Zhè
zhǐ
shì
chuánshuō
传说
  
,
zěnme
不怎么
quèshí
确实
  

This is just uncertain news.

实在 also means "honest, dependable" and is mostly used as the predicate or attributive and can also be reduplicated.
6
Zhège
这个
rén
biǎo
表里如一
  
,
fēicháng
非常
shízài
实在
  

The man's words accord with his deeds and he is very honest.

7
de
xuéshí
学识
shì
shíshízàizài
实实在在
de
  
,
méiyòng
没用
diǎnr  
一点儿
jiǎ
虚假
  

His learning is undoubted.

8
xiǎohuǒzi
小伙子
shì
bié
特别
shízài
实在
de
rén
  

The young man is very honest.

实在 also means 其实 (in fact), implying that it may not be so, used as an adverbial.
9
chuī
de
hai
厉害
  
,
shízài
实在
bìng
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
  

He talked his head off, but in fact there was nothing special.

真实, indicating something conforming to the fact, is more literary.
确实 can also be used in some situations but with less stress.
10
Zhè
shì
duàn
zhēnshí
真实
de
shǐ
历史
  

This is a real piece of history.

11
de
huà
zhēnshí
真实
  
(
quèshí
确实
  
)
kào
可靠
  

His words are true and reliable.

12
men
我们
hái
lexiè
了解
zhēnshí
真实
  
(
quèshí
确实
  
)
de
qíngkuàng
情况
  

We haven't known the truth yet.

真实 seldom functions as an adverbial but may be so used in relating an artistic work or historical writing.
13
Zhè
这部
xiǎoshuō
小说
zhēnshí
真实
zàixiàn
再现
le
dāngnián
当年
de
jiān
艰苦
suìyuè
岁月
  

The novel is a true representation of those hard years.

Exercise

The other two words cannot be so used.