another round of confusing vocab similarities

[babygodzilla]

is there any difference in usage between

其实

实在

实际上

究竟

等等。。。any other words that mean "in fact", "actually," and the kind

can it be freely interchanged?

其实我是美国人

我实在是美国人

实际上，我是美国人

correct?

thanks!

[Altair]

I am no expert, but isn't trying to distinguish between these words like trying to distinguish between "actually," "really," "in fact," "as a matter of fact," "in reality," etc.? If I scratched my head really hard, I could might be able to make distinctions, but it would not be easy.

Of the expressions you listed, the only one that stood out for me was 究竟, which I think can also mean "after all" or "in the end." This is a meaning that the other terms do not have, I think.

[Quest]

我实在是美国人

This usage is incorrect.

Consider 我确实是美国人 or 我的确是美国人。

I can't find a good translation for 实在，but here are a few examples of its correct usages:

我实在是没有办法。

我实在是不想去。

我实在是欠您太多了。

[tanhql]

其实 is a general 'actually'.

实在 can be translated to 'really', as in:

我实在是吃不下去了

i really can't eat anymore

这实在是太好了

this is really good(terrific).

实际上 can be translated as 'in actual fact'/basically(this is basically that)

这篇散文，实际上是一首诗。

this essay, in actual fact, is a poem.

basically, this essay is a poem.

究竟 can be translated as 'what on earth'(asking for details)

你究竟干了什么好事？ *好事 here don't mean 'good things'

what on earth have you done?

[Gulao]

I don't really think of many of these as being the same. 其实 means "actually" in the sense that what the speaker is about to say contrasts expectations:

其实我是加拿大人。

Actually, I'm Canadian.

实在, I was taught, means "indeed." Taking tanhql's second example:

这实在是太好了。

This is indeed excellent.

Reading Quest's and tanhql's posts, though, it looks as though I was taught wrong. It may be something in between the meaning of indeed as a confirmation and really as a superlative. You'd have to get someone with more experience to explain this distinction, as I always thought it was synonymous with 的确.

I've always seen 实际上 as equivalent to 其实. Perhaps this is not the case. Taking tanhql's advice into account, it may also be able to be used in the same sense as 基本上.

Of course, the other confusing words could be 确实 and 的确. These two mean indeed. Quest gives a good example.

[Koneko]

Personally, I would use 确实 for solid facts (say 100% certain).

的确 for general facts (say 98% certain)

E.g.

虽然英文的确是世上使用率分布最广的语言，但中文确实还是最多人使用的语言。

Hope this helps!

K.