まっすぐ

ま

っ

す

ぐ

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, adverb, noun

straight; direct; upright

usually written using kana alone

Describes physical straightness, directness of a path, or an upright posture. Used as an adverb, adjectival noun, or noun.

この道みちをまっすぐ行いってください。
Please go straight along this road.

背はい筋きんをまっすぐに伸のばして座すわりなさい。

Sit with your back straight.

2

na-adjective, noun

straightforward; honest; frank

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's character or behavior as direct, honest, and without deceit. Often used with 性格 or 人.

彼かれはまっすぐな性せい格かくで、嘘うそをつかない。
He has a straightforward character and never tells lies.
まっすぐな目めで私わたしを見みつめた。
He looked at me with honest eyes.

Written forms

まっすぐUsage72%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 真っ直ぐ is also common but kana is preferred in everyday writing.
真まっ直すぐUsage17%
Standard kanji spelling; widely used and understood.
真まっすぐUsage7%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard spelling.
真まっ直すぐUsage3%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard spelling.
真まっ直すぐUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not a standard spelling.
マッスグUsage<1%

Kanji

真true, reality, Buddhist sect
直straightaway, honesty, frankness

Similar words

正しょう直じき
正直 emphasizes truthfulness and not lying, while まっすぐ focuses on directness and lack of guile in character.
率そっ直ちょく
率直 is more about frankness in speech, whereas まっすぐ describes an overall straightforward personality.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective 直ぐ (すぐ, 'straight, direct') with the intensifying prefix 真っ (まっ). The exact historical development is uncertain, but the form is well-established in modern Japanese.