其实
qíshí · HSK 3
actually
其 (its) + 实 (real/truth) = its truth → actually, in fact
其 means 'its/that' and 实 means 'real, solid, truth' (think 实在 = real). Together: 'its reality' — what is actually the case. Used to contrast appearance with the actual situation, like English 'in fact' or 'actually'.
其 — top 八 + winnowing basket 其 (originally 箕)
Originally a pictograph of a bamboo winnowing basket, now written 箕 with the bamboo radical added on top. The original form 其 was borrowed phonetically to write the pronoun and particle meaning 'his/her/its' or 'that.' This loan use became dominant, so a new character 箕 was created for the basket meaning.