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まとも Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun, na-adjective
the front ; directly ; head-on
usually written using kana alone
Used adverbially as まともに to mean 'directly', 'head-on', or 'straight'. The noun use is less common.
See also: まともに
Advance straight into the wind.
2
na-adjective, noun
honest ; decent ; proper ; serious ; sensible
usually written using kana alone
Describes a person, action, or thing that is upright, respectable, or not crooked. Often used in negative contexts to mean 'not decent' or 'not serious'.
Written forms まとも Usage 98%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
マトモ Usage 2%
正面まとも
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; can be confused with 正面 (しょうめん).
真面まとも
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form.
真ま 正と 面も
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form.
Kanji 正 correct, justice, righteous 真 true, reality, Buddhist sect Similar words まともに Adverbial form of まとも, used for 'directly', 'properly', or 'seriously'.
正しょう 面めん Means 'front' or 'facade', often used for physical orientation. まとも is more about facing something directly or being upright.
Etymology Derived from 真 (ま, 'true') + 面 (とも, 'face/direction'), originally meaning 'directly facing'. The figurative sense of 'honest/upright' developed from the idea of being straightforward.
