Meet 正 in 正しい, 正月, and other useful words. Read the examples and connect each word to its meaning.

The idea

正 has 5 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 正しい (ただしい) and 正月 (しょうがつ) as whole words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
正しいただしいThis answer is correct.
正月しょうがつI go to a shrine with my family at New Year.
正午しょうごLet’s meet at the station at noon.
正解せいかいThe second answer is correct.

Examples

  • この答こたえは正ただしいです。This answer is correct.
  • 正月しょうがつに家族かぞくと神社じんじゃへ行いきます。I go to a shrine with my family at New Year.
  • 正午しょうごに駅えきで会あいましょう。Let’s meet at the station at noon.
  • 二番目にばんめの答こたえが正解せいかいです。The second answer is correct.
  • 正ただしい道みちを私わたしに教おしえてください。Please show me the right way.
  • 彼かれはいつも正直しょうじきに話はなします。He always speaks honestly.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Here, 正しい means “correct”; 正月 means “the New Year period”. Compare 正しい (ただしい) and 正月 (しょうがつ) in context: “This answer is correct.” and “I go to a shrine with my family at New Year.” The same character does not make the words interchangeable. Compare the shapes of 正 and 止 as well.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 正しい in hiragana.

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    ただしい

    正しい is read ただしい. In context: This answer is correct.

  2. Write the reading of 正月 in hiragana.

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    しょうがつ

    正月 is read しょうがつ. In context: I go to a shrine with my family at New Year.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿しい [正 / 止] (ただしい).

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    正

    正 completes 正しい, read ただしい. In context: This answer is correct.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 正 from memory, then read 正しい and 正月 aloud. Check the readings and contexts.