〈事こと〉はまさに〈物もの〉だX is exactly/truly Y
この作さく品ひんはまさに芸げい術じゅつだ。
This work is truly a work of art.
まさに〈時とき〉right at the very moment of ~
電でん車しゃが出しゅっ発ぱつする、まさにその時とき、彼かれが駆かけ込こんできた。
Right at the moment the train was about to leave, he came rushing in.
まさに〈動どう詞し〉としているto be just about to do something
太たい陽ようがまさに沈しずもうとしている。
The sun is just about to set.
まさに〈動どう詞し〉べきだreally ought to do something
困こまっている人ひとを助たすけるのは、まさに私わたしたちがすべきことだ。
Helping people in trouble is exactly what we ought to do.

Kanji

正correct, justice, righteous

Related words· 6

ちょうどN4sense 1
ちょうど stresses exactness in time, amount, or fit, while 正に adds an emphatic 'truly/indeed' nuance and can also mark imminent action.
今いまにもN4sense 3
いまにも focuses purely on something being about to happen, whereas 正に can add a stronger sense of 'truly, right at this instant'.
確たしかにN3sense 1
確かに confirms that something is certainly true, while 正に emphasizes that it is exactly or precisely so, often with more rhetorical force.
文も字じ通どおりN1
文字通り stresses that words are true in their exact, literal sense, while まさに emphasizes precision or exactness without focusing on wording.

Show 2 more

まさしくN1
正に and まさしく both mean 'exactly/certainly', but まさしく sounds slightly more emphatic or formal than the more common 正に.
いかにもN2
まさに emphasizes exact correctness or timing ('precisely'), while いかにも emphasizes that something fits a stereotype or impression perfectly.

Don't confuse with

まさかN3sense 1
正に (まさに) means 'exactly/truly', while まさか means 'surely not' or expresses disbelief, so despite the similar sound their meanings are opposite in tone.

Written forms

正まさにUsage5%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
まさにUsage95%
Kana spelling is very common and often preferred in everyday writing.
将まさに
Alternate kanji form noted in source for sense 3; rarely used.
当まさに
Alternate kanji form noted in source for sense 4; rarely used.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adverb まさに, which originally meant 'truly' or 'exactly'. The kanji 正 (correct/just) was later applied to match the meaning.