What does 正 mean in Japanese?
正 means “correct, right, just” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 正しい (correct), 正月 (New Year), and 正午 (noon).
For learners, the key is to study 正 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou)
Kun’yomi: ただ-しい (tada-shii), まさ- (masa-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 正 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | correct, right, proper |
| Stroke Count | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
正 is not limited to one English translation. In 正しい (ただしい), it means correct; in 正月 (しょうがつ), it points to New Year; and in 正午 (しょうご), it is used for noon. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 正しい（ただしい / tadashii） — correct
- 正月（しょうがつ / shōgatsu） — New Year
- 正午（しょうご / shōgo） — noon
- 正門（せいもん / seimon） — main gate
- 正直（しょうじき / shōjiki） — honest
- 正式（せいしき / seishiki） — formal; official
Example Sentences
-
正しい答えを選んでください。
ただしいこたえをえらんでください。 / Tadashii kotae o erande kudasai.
Please choose the correct answer.
-
正月に家族で集まります。
しょうがつにかぞくであつまります。 / Shōgatsu ni kazoku de atsumarimasu.
My family gathers at New Year.
-
正午に会いましょう。
しょうごにあいましょう。 / Shōgo ni aimashō.
Let’s meet at noon.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 正しい (ただしい / tadashii) because it keeps the core meaning of 正 clear. Then add 正月 and 正午 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 正 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
正 means “correct, right, just” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 正しい, 正月, and 正午.