まっすぐ

ま

っ

す

ぐ

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

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.

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.

See all 144 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉をまっすぐ行いくto go straight along a place (e.g. road)
この道みちをまっすぐ行いくと駅えきに着つきます。
If you go straight along this road, you'll reach the station.
〈人ひと〉の目めをまっすぐ見みるto look someone straight in the eye
彼かれは私わたしの目めをまっすぐ見みて話はなした。
He spoke while looking me straight in the eye.
まっすぐな性せい格かくa straightforward, honest personality
彼かの女じょはまっすぐな性せい格かくで、みんなに信しん頼らいされている。
She has a straightforward personality and is trusted by everyone.
まっすぐに立たつto stand upright/straight
背せ筋すじを伸のばしてまっすぐに立たってください。
Please straighten your back and stand up straight.

Kanji

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

Related words

正しょう直じきN3sense 2
正直 emphasizes not lying and being truthful, while まっすぐ describes an overall straightforward, guileless personality.
率そっ直ちょくN2sense 2
率直 focuses on frankness in speech or opinion, whereas まっすぐ describes a person's whole character as direct and honest.
ずっとN4
まっすぐ focuses on the straightness of a path, while ずっと (in this sense) emphasizes going all the way without stopping.
ストレート
まっすぐ is the native Japanese word for physical straightness, while ストレート is the loanword often used for the same sense but also extends to speech, sports, and drinks.
素す直なおN3
真っ直ぐ is the everyday word for anything physically straight, while 素直 for hair is a narrower, less common way to say the same thing.

Opposites

斜ななめN3sense 1
斜め describes something slanted or diagonal, the opposite of まっすぐ meaning straight or upright.
ずるいN3sense 2
ずるい describes someone sly or dishonest, the opposite of a まっすぐ (straightforward, honest) personality.

Don't confuse with

すぐN4
直ぐ (すぐ) means 'soon' or 'immediately', while まっすぐ means 'straight' or 'direct' — learners often confuse the two because まっすぐ contains すぐ.

Built from

真ま+すぐ

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%

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.