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Kotomora

貞

upright, chastity, constancy, righteousness

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ
  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

  • ただし.い
  • さだ

Nanori

  • さざ
  • ただし
  • りょう

Meaning

貞 centers on moral firmness and unwavering principle: being upright, righteous, and constant in character. Chastity is a specific application of that same steadfast purity.

Most common words using 貞

20 of 36
  • 童貞どうてい

    virginity (of a male); (male) virgin

  • 貞てい

    firm adherence to one's principles

  • 貞操ていそう

    chastity; virtue; fidelity

  • 不貞ふてい

    unfaithfulness; infidelity; unchastity

  • 貞治じょうじ

    Jōji era (of the Northern Court) (1362.9.23-1368.2.18); Teiji era

  • 貞淑ていしゅく

    chastity; virtue; fidelity; feminine modesty

  • 貞節ていせつ

    chastity; fidelity; faithfulness; virtue

  • シロウト童貞シロウトどうてい

    man who has never had sex except with sex workers

  • 安貞あんてい

    Antei era (1227.12.10-1229.3.5)

  • 弘仁貞観時代こうにんじょうがんじだい

    Kōnin-Jōgan period (of Japanese art history; approx. 794-894 CE)

  • 童貞卒業どうていそつぎょう

    losing one's virginity (of a male)

  • 童貞喪失どうていそうしつ

    loss of virginity (of a male)

  • 童貞生殖どうていせいしょく

    androgenesis

  • 童貞説どうていせつ

    immaculate conception; virgin birth

  • 貞はるさだはる

    to harp too long on a subject

  • 貞享じょうきょう

    Jōkyō era (1684.2.21-1688.9.30)

  • 貞元じょうげん

    Jōgen era (976.7.13-978.11.29); Teigen era

  • 貞和じょうわ

    Jōwa era (of the Northern Court) (1345.10.21-1350.2.27); Teiwa era

  • 貞女ていじょ

    virtuous woman; faithful wife

  • 貞婦ていふ

    faithful or virtuous woman (wife)

Explore all words using 貞 →

Study

Etymology

貞 combines ⺊ (divination) and 貝 (shell, value). The original sense likely involved divination to determine what is correct or constant, later extended to moral uprightness.

Meaning mnemonic

A divination tool ⺊ over a precious shell 貝 suggests seeking a true, unchanging answer. Picture a priest consulting an oracle to confirm what is right and constant: that is uprightness.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, imagine a tea ceremony where every movement is upright and precise: tea -> テイ, and the ceremony embodies constancy and righteousness.