KANJI: SEI SHOU tada (correct, proper, right)

ASCII Art Representation:

 
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Character Etymology:

This character has often been explained as the character for foot approaching a bar (-) to indicate stopping at the right place, i.e. being correct. Ironically, this is incorrect. Older versions of this character show the character to be a varient of the character for lower leg, which by association meant straight and by figurative expression came to mean, "proper," or, "correct."

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: SEI SHOU
kun-yomi: tada(shii) tada(su) masa masa(ni)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: oo kuni ma masashi tadashi

English Definitions:

  1. SEI: right, righteousness, justice, original; plus, positive; genuine.
  2. SHOU: just; punctual; senior; right, righteousness, justice.
  3. tada(su): correct; adjust; reform; redress; straighten; amend.
  4. masa(ni): correctly, surely.
  5. masa(shiku): surely, no doubt, evidently.
  6. tada(shii): right, righteous, just, honest, truthful, proper, correct; lawful; healthy; moral; straight; straightforward; perfect.
  7. sei-: regular.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 2955
Henshall: 41

Unicode Encoded Version:

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

(shougatsu): The New Year.
正解 (seikai): correct answer.
正正堂堂 (seisei-doudou): fair and square (extremely justifiable).

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