Details
Description
Truth/Reality - authenticity, genuine, real.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of spoon, eye, and eight. Eyes discerning truth.
Symbolism
Truth, genuine, sincere. Represents purity in 'true heart' and 'serious'.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents true form without falsehood, ultimate state to be achieved in spiritual cultivation.
Component Breakdown
Ten + tool
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
真一文字
まいちもんじ
straight line; beeline
真剣勝負
しんけんしょうぶ
fighting with real swords; game played in real earnest
真実一路
しんじついちろ
path of sincerity
正真正銘
しょうしんしょうめい
genuine; authentic; true
天真爛漫
てんしんらんまん
innocent; naive; artless
純真無垢
じゅんしんむく
pure; purity
純真可憐
じゅんしんかれん
pure of heart and beautiful; innocent and beautiful
真相究明
しんそうきゅうめい
probe into the truth (of the matter); dig into the real facts of the case; get at the root of a matter
Proverbs & Idioms
真に受ける
まにうける
To take seriously
To believe something literally without questioning
真の友は逆境の時にわかる
しんのともはぎゃっきょうのときにわかる
True friends are known in times of adversity
Real friendship is proven during difficult times
Anime & Manga
呪術廻戦
Jujutsu Kaisen
Characters with 'Maki' in names like Zenin Maki are featured
デスノート
Death Note
Psychological battle questioning 'truth' and 'justice'
名探偵コナン
Detective Conan
Famous line 'There is always only one truth'
真の仲間じゃないと勇者のパーティーを追い出されたので、辺境でスローライフすることにしました
Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside
A well-known work with 真 in its Japanese title.
真剣で私に恋しなさい！
Majikoi: Oh! Samurai Girls
A well-known work with 真 in its Japanese title.
Games
真・女神転生V
Shin Megami Tensei V(2021)
Latest in dark RPG series bearing 'True' title
View on Amazon →真・三國無双8 Empires
Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires(2021)
'True' series strategic action game
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
真田信繁（幸村）
(さなだのぶしげ)His family name Sanada opens with this character
He drove to within reach of Ieyasu's own position at the summer siege of Osaka. A letter from the opposing Shimazu called him "the finest soldier in Japan", and that one line made his later reputation. The name Yukimura comes from Edo-period storybooks; he signed himself Nobushige.
菅原道真
Name contains 真
Sugawara no Michizane mʲi.tɕiꜜ.za.ne, sɯ.ŋa-], August 1, 845 – March 26, 903), or Kankō , was a scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian period of…
Wikipedia鑑真
Name contains 真
Jianzhen , also known by his Japanese name Ganjin , was a Tang Chinese monk who helped to propagate Buddhism in Japan.
Wikipedia吉備真備
Name contains 真
Kibi no Asomi Makibi was a Japanese scholar and noble during the Nara period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“true”
“reality”
“genuine”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 真 mean in Japanese?
真 means true, reality, genuine. Truth/Reality - authenticity, genuine, real.
How do you read 真?
On'yomi: シン (SHIN). Kun'yomi: ま、ま-、まこと (ma, ma, makoto).
How many strokes does 真 have?
真 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 目 (eye).
Is 真 a good kanji for a tattoo?
真 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means true, reality, genuine. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.