正しょう

prefix

exactly; precisely

Prefix used before a number to mean 'exactly that number' or 'precisely'. Common in formal or written contexts.

• 正しょう午ごは正しょう十じゅう二に時じです。

  Noon is exactly twelve o'clock.

• 正せい五ご角かく形けいを描えがく。

  Draw a regular pentagon.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

correct; right; true

Archaic noun/adjectival use meaning 'correct' or 'true'. Not used in modern Japanese outside fixed expressions or historical contexts.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは「正せい」を「正ただしい」の意い味みで使つかうことがある。

  In old documents, 正 is sometimes used to mean 'correct'.

noun, noun, used as a prefix

greater; upper; senior

Archaic noun/prefix used in the ritsuryō court rank system to indicate the higher of two equal ranks. Also read じょう. Compare with 従 (じゅ).

See also: 従 (じゅ)

• 律りつ令りょう制せいでは、正三位しょうさんみは従じゅ三さん位みより上じょう位いとされた。

  In the ritsuryō system, Senior Third Rank was higher than Junior Third Rank.

noun

director; chief

Archaic noun referring to the highest administrative position (長官) in the ritsuryō period. Historical term.

See also: 長官 (かみ)

• 正しょうは律りつ令りょう制せいの四し等とう官かんの最さい上じょう位いである。

  The 正 was the highest of the four administrative positions in the ritsuryō system.