真
真·true
- On-yomi
- シン
- Kun-yomi
- ま
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん | photo |
| 真ん中 | まんなか | the centre |
| 真面目 | まじめ | serious, earnest |
| 真っ白 | まっしろ | pure white |
Example sentences
写真を撮ってもいいですか。
しゃしんをとってもいいですか。
May I take a photo?
部屋の真ん中にテーブルがあります。
へやのまんなかにテーブルがあります。
There's a table in the middle of the room.
彼はとても真面目な学生です。
かれはとてもまじめながくせいです。
He is a very serious student.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 真面目 is read まじめ, an irregular reading you cannot get from ま or しん.
Memory aid
Picture it
Ten (十) eyes (目) looking at the same thing and all seeing it the same way — that's the truth.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 真中まんなかmiddle, centre
- 写真しゃしんphotograph
- 真面目まじめserious, diligent
- 真剣しんけんserious, earnest
- 写真集しゃしんしゅうphoto book
- 真っ赤まっかbright red
- 真似まねimitation, mimicry; behaviour, conduct
- 真っ直ぐまっすぐstraight (ahead), direct, upright
- 真っ暗まっくらpitch dark
- 真っ黒まっくろpitch black, jet black, deeply tanned
- 真っ先まっさきthe very front, the first thing, first of all
- 真っ青まっさおdeep blue; deathly pale (of a face)
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 真 mean?