Details
Description
Sincerity/Truth - honesty, authenticity, truthfulness.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of words and become. Truth where words hold true.
Symbolism
Sincerity, true heart, trust. Represents core virtue of bushido.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents truthful heart without falsehood, most valued spiritual quality in both Shinto and bushido.
Component Breakdown
Words + become
Words & Expressions
Words written with 誠
Four-Character Compounds
誠心誠意
せいしんせいい
in all sincerity; with one's whole heart; whole-hearted devotion
Proverbs & Idioms
誠は天の道なり
まことはてんのみちなり
Sincerity is the way of heaven
Truthfulness is in accordance with the natural order
Anime & Manga
薄桜鬼
Hakuoki
Story under the Shinsengumi's 'Makoto' banner
るろうに剣心
Rurouni Kenshin
Shinsengumi and 'sincerity' spirit are key themes
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer
Protagonist Tanjiro's sincere character is appealing
Games
龍が如く 維新！極
Like a Dragon: Ishin!(2023)
Bakumatsu action depicting Shinsengumi's 'sincerity'
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
近藤勇
(こんどういさみ)Shinsengumi commander who raised the 'Makoto' flag
Bakumatsu samurai. Led Shinsengumi to maintain order in Kyoto
誠仁親王
Name contains 誠
Prince Masahito , also known as Prince Sanehito and posthumously named Yōkōin daijō-tennō, was the eldest son of Emperor Ōgimachi.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 誠 mean in Japanese?
誠 means sincerity, truth. Sincerity/Truth - honesty, authenticity, truthfulness.
How do you read 誠?
On'yomi: セイ (SEI). Kun'yomi: まこと (makoto).
How many strokes does 誠 have?
誠 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 言 (speech).
Is 誠 a good kanji for a tattoo?
誠 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means sincerity, truth. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.