誠
sincerity · admonish · warn · prohibit · truth · fidelity
Details
Description
Sincerity/Truth - honesty, authenticity, truthfulness.
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
Words + become
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.
Anime & Manga
るろうに剣心
るろうにけんしん
Rurouni Kenshin(2023)
Shinsengumi and 'sincerity' spirit are key themes
View on Amazon →鬼滅の刃
きめつのやいば
Demon Slayer(2019)
Protagonist Tanjiro's sincere character is appealing
View on Amazon →Games
龍が如く 維新！極
Like a Dragon: Ishin!(2023)
Bakumatsu action depicting Shinsengumi's 'sincerity'
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
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; in all sincerity
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
Related Figures
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 誠 mean in Japanese?
誠 means sincerity, admonish, warn, prohibit, truth, fidelity. 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?
Yes. 誠 (sincerity, admonish, warn, prohibit, truth, fidelity) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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