Recognise 直 in complete Japanese words. These examples show repairing and going straight in context.

The idea

直 has 8 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 直す（なおす） with 直る（なおる）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
直すなおすI will repair the broken clock.
直るなおるThe clock has been fixed already.
直接ちょくせつI will ask the teacher directly.
直進ちょくしんI go straight at the next traffic light.

Examples

  • 壊こわれた時計とけいを直なおします。I will repair the broken clock.
  • 時計とけいがもう直なおりました。The clock has been fixed already.
  • 先生せんせいに直接ちょくせつ聞ききます。I will ask the teacher directly.
  • 次つぎの信号しんごうを直進ちょくしんします。I go straight at the next traffic light.
  • 間違まちがいを直なおしてください。Please correct the mistake.
  • 二人ふたりはもう仲直なかなおりしました。The two have already made up.

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

Watch out

直す（なおす） is transitive: someone repairs or corrects something. 直る（なおる） is intransitive: the thing gets fixed. For healing an illness, 治す is usually written instead. Compare 直 with 値: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 直す in hiragana.

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    なおす

    直す is read なおす. In context: I will repair the broken clock.

  2. Write the reading of 直る in hiragana.

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    なおる

    直る is read なおる. In context: The clock has been fixed already.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿す（なおす）.

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    直

    直 completes 直す, read なおす. In context: I will repair the broken clock.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 直 from memory, and read 直す and 直る aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.