真 means “true, genuine”

ま · ma

Also: reality, Buddhist sect

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ま, まこと

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 10 strokes

The story

A spoon held perfectly level: truth as something exactly upright, exactly full. 真 intensifies whatever it touches: 真ん中 the exact middle, 真っ白 pure white, 写真 a "copied truth," a photograph.

Used in 写真 (shashin, photograph), 真ん中 (mannaka, the very middle), and 真面目 (majime, serious)

More from Everyday Japan

• 有 possess
• 何 what
• 映 reflect
• 毎 every
• 写 copy
• 便 convenience
• 服 clothing
• 曜 day of week
• 飯 meal
• 洗 wash
• 同 same
• 円 circle

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.