事実

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 事実, read じじつ, and it combines 事, meaning matter or event, with 実, meaning reality or truth.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 事実 is a fact that actually occurred or can be verified, as opposed to speculation or rumor.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Verified fact and a truth that comes to light
  • Both examples use the form 事実. The first stresses information that has been confirmed, while the second names an actual circumstance revealed late in a story.
• Excluding rumors and an unexpected final revelation
  • うわさではなく確認できた事実だけを話しました。 — I spoke only about confirmed facts, not rumors.
  • 物語の最後に意外な事実が明らかになります。 — An unexpected truth is revealed at the end of the story.