是 means “right, just, this”

ぜ · ze

Also: just so, justice

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): これ, この, ここ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ゼ, シ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

The sun (日) over a foot set straight (the lower part, a form of 正): the Shuowen reads 是 as "straight, correct". 是非 is right and wrong, and also "by all means", as in 是非来てください; 是正 is setting something right.

Used in 是非 (zehi, by all means/right and wrong), 是正 (zesei, correction), and 是が非でも (ze ga hi demo, at any cost)

是 means “right, just, this”

The story

More from Formal Words