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Kotomora

直

straightaway, honesty, frankness, fix, repair

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョク
  • ジキ
  • ジカ

Kun'yomi

  • ただ.ちに
  • なお.す
  • -なお.す
  • なお.る
  • なお.き
  • す.ぐ

Nanori

  • すぐ
  • なお
  • のう
  • のお

Meaning

直 centers on straightness: going directly, being frank or honest, and making something correct again. The repair sense fits the idea of straightening or setting something right.

Most common words using 直

24 of 551
  • 直ぐすぐ
    N4

    immediately; at once; right away; directly

  • 正直しょうじき
    N3

    honest; frank; candid; straightforward

  • 直接ちょくせつ
    N4

    direct; immediate; personal; firsthand

  • 直後ちょくご
    N2

    immediately following

  • 直しなおし

    correction; rectification

  • 素直すなお
    N3

    obedient; meek; docile; unaffected

  • 直前ちょくぜん
    N2

    just before; just prior to

  • 直じき
    N1

    soon; in a moment; before long; shortly

  • 直ちょく
    N1

    direct

  • 直すなおす
    N5

    to repair; to mend; to fix; to correct (a mistake, bad habit, etc.); to put right; to restore; to straighten (e.g. a tie); to tidy up (one's hair, make-up, etc.); to revive (one's spirits)

  • 見直しみなおし

    review; reconsideration; revision

  • やり直しやりなおし
    N1

    redoing; doing over again

  • 直感ちょっかん
    N1

    intuition; instinct; hunch

  • 直径ちょっけい
    N2

    diameter

  • 直ちにただちに
    N3

    at once; immediately; right away; without delay

  • 直線ちょくせん
    N2

    straight line

  • 直撃ちょくげき
    N1

    direct hit

  • 真っ直ぐまっすぐ
    N5

    straight (ahead); direct; upright; erect

  • 直面ちょくめん
    N1

    confrontation

  • 直るなおる
    N4

    to get mended; to be repaired; to be fixed

  • 直接的ちょくせつてき

    direct

  • 直行ちょっこう

    going straight (to); going direct; going without stopping

  • 立直リーチ

    rīchi; riichi; declaring that one is one tile away from winning while one's hand is completely concealed

  • 率直そっちょく
    N2

    frank; candid; straightforward; openhearted; direct; outspoken

Explore all words using 直 →

Study

Etymology

直 is associated with the idea of straightness or directness, but the detailed historical development of its components is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The vertical structure of 直 looks upright and aligned, like something checked against a straight edge. Straight things are direct, honest, and can be set right.

Reading mnemonic

For チョク, imagine a crooked line snapping straight with a sharp invented sound: chok! The chok sound cues チョク while the line becomes direct and correct.