Differences between 事実 and 真実

Question

Both 真実 and 事実 means; fact,truth. So in Kanji Lesson I asked my teacher if there is any differences between them, he said yes but there was no time to explain.

Answer 1

Just use the kanji to break it down.

事実　→　事 = thing; 実 = true. So it's a "true thing", "something that is true"; a fact as opposed to a false statement. Exs.

• 空は青いです　→　The sky is blue; this is a fact
• 太陽は東から昇り西に没する　→　The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; this is also a fact
• 事実無根　→　(a) groundless (fact)

真実　→　真 = true, real; 実 = true, truth. So this is truth as an abstract concept, as opposed to a lie.

• 真実を言え！　→　Tell the truth
• 彼の言うことの真実性を疑う　→　I doubt the truth in what he says.