真
true, reality, Buddhist sect
Readings
On'yomi
- シン
Kun'yomi
- ま
- ま-
- まこと
Nanori
- さな
- さね
- ただ
- ただし
- なお
- のり
- まあ
- まこ
- まさ
- まっ
- まど
- まな
- まゆ
- みち
- も
Meaning
真 centers on what is genuine and actual: truth, reality, and things as they really are. The Buddhist sect meaning is a specific application of this idea of ultimate truth.
Most common words using 真
24 of 513- 写真しゃしんN5
photograph; photo; picture; photography
- 真しんN1
truth; reality; genuineness
- 真実しんじつN2
truth; reality
- 真面目まじめN4
serious; earnest; sober; grave
- 真剣しんけんN3
serious; earnest
- 真似まねN3
imitating; copying; mimicry
- 真ん中まんなかN4
middle; centre; center; midpoint; heart
- 真相しんそうN1
truth; real situation
- 真夏まなつN1
middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer
- 真っ赤まっかN3
bright red; deep red; flushed (of face)
- 真理しんりN1
truth
- 真っ直ぐまっすぐN5
straight (ahead); direct; upright; erect
- 真夜中まよなかN3
dead of night; midnight
- 真っ白まっしろN3
pure white
- 真空しんくうN2
vacuum
- 真っ先まっさきN2
the head; the foremost; beginning; the very front
- 真っ暗まっくらN2
pitch-dark; pitch-black; completely dark
- 真っ黒まっくろN3
pitch black
- 真珠しんじゅN1
pearl
- 真摯しんしN1
sincere; earnest; serious
- 真顔まがお
serious look (on one's face); straight face
- 真意しんいN1
real intention; true motive; true meaning
- 真っ当まっとう
proper; respectable; decent; honest
- 真冬まふゆ
midwinter; dead of winter
Study
Etymology
真 is thought to combine 匕 (a spoon or person) with 鼎 (a tripod vessel) or 貝 (shell), later simplified to the modern form with 十 and 具. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character has long been associated with truth and reality.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 十 (ten) and bottom 具 (tool) suggest a perfect, complete tool: something that is exactly as it should be, true and real.
Reading mnemonic
For シン, imagine a true statement shining like a bright light: shin -> シン, and the truth is revealed.