正

See also: 企, 疋, 辵, and 乏

正	U+6B63, 正 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6B63

← 止
[U+6B62]

CJK Unified Ideographs

此 →
[U+6B64]

𝍶	U+1D376, 𝍶 IDEOGRAPHIC TALLY MARK FIVE

← 𝍵
[U+1D375]

Counting Rod Numerals

𝍷 →
[U+1D377]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Alternative forms

As a component of some complex characters, 正 is often written as 𤴓 with its last two strokes different. Compare 昰 and 是.

Han character

正 (Kangxi radical 77, 止+1, 5 strokes, cangjie input 一卜中一 (MYLM), four-corner 1010₁, composition ⿱一止)

Shuowen Jiezi radical №31

Usage notes

(tally marks, 5): The successive strokes of 正 () are used in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and other areas where Chinese characters are prominent to designate tallies in votes, scores, points, sushi orders, and the like, much as is used in Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. Tallies beyond five are written with a 正 for each group of five, followed by the remainder. For example, a tally of twelve is written as 正正丅.

Derived characters

征, 定, 昰, 是, 症, 整, 焉

References

KangXi: page 574, character 2
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 16255
Dae Jaweon: page 962, character 2
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1436, character 1
Unihan data for U+6B63

Chinese

simp. and trad.		正
alternative forms		疋𤴓㱏𣥔𧾸疋𤴓㱏𣥔𧾸𠙺

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 正
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (正) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
綻	*rdeːns
淀	*deːns
靛	*deːns
症	*tjɯŋs
竀	rtʰeːŋ, tʰeŋ
征	*tjeŋ
怔	*tjeŋ
正	tjeŋ, tjeŋs
鉦	*tjeŋ
鴊	tjeŋ, tjeŋs
眐	*tjeŋ
佂	*tjeŋ
整	*tjeŋʔ
政	*tjeŋs
証	*tjeŋs
定	teːŋs, deːŋs
顁	*teːŋs
錠	teːŋs, deːŋʔ, *deːŋs
掟	*deːŋs

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *tjeŋ, *tjeŋs) : phonetic 丁 (OC *rteːŋ, *teːŋ) + semantic 止 (“foot”) – to go on a long journey. Original form of 征 (OC *tjeŋ, “to go on long campaign”).

Etymology

Sino-Tibetan or area word: “centre; target; first (month); straight; correct”.

Compare Mizo dîng (“to go straight or direct (as person, arrow etc.); to go straight through without breaking the journey; straight; direct”). Matisoff sets up Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-tjak/ŋ ~ tik/ŋ (“good; very; real; straight”) for this, which includes 正, 直 (OC *dɯɡ, “straight; right”) and 實 (OC *ɦliɡ, “solid; true”).

Additionally, Matisoff has Proto-Sino-Tibetan *t(r)waŋ (“straight; straighten”), whence Chepang धेङ्‌सा (dʰeŋ-, “straight”), Jingpho ding (“straight”), Tibetan དྲང་པོ (drang po, “straight; correct; upright; just; fair”), Burmese တန်း (tan:, “straight; to head straight for”). Also compare Khmer ទៀង (tiĕng, “accurate; correct; exact; precise; honest”).

Derivatives:

征 (OC *tjeŋ, “to go straight > to go on a journey”)
政 (OC *tjeŋs, “correct; to govern; government; to determine”)
整 (OC *tjeŋʔ, “orderly; to arrange; to dispose”)

Pronunciation 2 for the month's name results from the historical avoidance of the taboo on its homophone 政 (OC *tjeŋs), which was the given name of Qin Shi Huang ().

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): zhèng (zheng⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄓㄥˋ
(Chengdu, SP): zen⁴
Cantonese (Jyutping): zeng³, zing³
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): chang / chṳn
(Meixian, Guangdong): zang⁴ / zen⁴
Min Dong (BUC): ciáng / céng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): chiàⁿ / chèng
(Teochew, Peng'im): zian³
Wu (Wiktionary): tsen (T2)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zhèng
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄥˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jhèng
  - Wade–Giles: chêng⁴
  - Yale: jèng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jenq
  - Palladius: чжэн (čžɛn)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: zen⁴
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zen
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sən²¹³/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: zeng³, zing³
  - Yale: jeng, jing
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dzeng³, dzing³
  - Guangdong Romanization: zéng³, jing³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɛːŋ³³/, /t͡sɪŋ³³/

Note:

zeng3 - vernacular;
zing3 - literary.

Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chang / chṳn
  - Hakka Romanization System: zang / ziin
  - Hagfa Pinyim: zang⁴ / zin⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡saŋ⁵⁵/, /t͡sɨn⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: zang⁴ / zen⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡saŋ⁵³/, /t͡sən⁵³/

Note:

chang/zang4 - vernacular;
chṳn/zen4 - literary.

Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ciáng / céng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siɑŋ²¹³/, /t͡sɛiŋ²¹³/

Note:

ciáng - vernacular;
céng - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiàⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tsiànn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: cviax
  - IPA (Taipei): /t͡ɕiã¹¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /t͡ɕiã⁴¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung, Singapore): /t͡ɕiã²¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chèng
  - Tâi-lô: tsìng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zexng
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /t͡ɕiɪŋ⁴¹/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /t͡ɕiɪŋ²¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /t͡ɕiɪŋ¹¹/

Note:

chiàⁿ - vernacular;
chèng - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: zian³
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsiàⁿ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sĩã²¹³/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: tsen (T2)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡səɲ³⁴/

Middle Chinese: /t͡ɕiᴇŋ^H/

Rime
Character	正
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	章 (23)
Final (韻)	清 (121)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	之盛切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡ɕiᴇŋ^H/
Pan Wuyun	/t͡ɕiɛŋ^H/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡ɕiæŋ^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ciajŋ^H/
Li Rong	/t͡ɕiɛŋ^H/
Wang Li	/t͡ɕĭɛŋ^H/
Bernard Karlgren	/t͡ɕi̯ɛŋ^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhèng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zing³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*teŋ-s/
(Zhengzhang): /*tjeŋs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	正
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhèng
Middle Chinese	‹ tsyeng^H ›
Old Chinese	/*teŋ-s/
English	correct (adj., v.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	正
Reading #	2/2
No.	17178
Phonetic component	正
Rime group	耕
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	政
Old Chinese	/*tjeŋs/

Definitions

正

straight; upright in proper position; middle
正門／正门 ― zhèngmén ― front door
把畫掛正。／把画挂正。 ― Bǎ huà guà zhèng. ― Hang the painting straight.
Antonym: 歪 (wāi)
right; proper; correct; upright
正路 ― zhènglù ― right way; correct path
正派 ― zhèngpài ― decent; upright; proper
公正 ― gōngzhèng ― just; fair
他作風不正。／他作风不正。 ― Tā zuòfēng bù zhèng. ― He behaves with impropriety.
行得正企得正 [Cantonese, trad. and simp.]
haang⁴ dak¹ zeng³ kei⁵ dak¹ zeng³ [Jyutping]
to act in a proper manner
obverse; right
25美分硬幣的正面是華盛頓總統的頭像。 [MSC, trad.]
25美分硬币的正面是华盛顿总统的头像。 [MSC, simp.]
25 měifēn yìngbì de zhèngmiàn shì Huáshèngdùn zǒngtǒng de tóuxiàng. [Pinyin]
The obverse of a quarter shows the profile of George Washington.
Antonym: 反 (fǎn)
regular; standard
正規／正规 ― zhèngguī ― regular; standard
正楷 ― zhèngkǎi ― regular script
precisely; directly; perfectly
正前方 ― zhèng qiánfāng ― straight ahead
正南 ― zhèng nán ― due south
primary; chief; main; full
正文 ― zhèngwén ― main body
正副主任 ― zhèng fù zhǔrèn ― [full] director and deputy director
正省級／正省级 ― zhèngxǐngjí ― [full-]provincial level
pure; unmixed; authentic; true
正紅色／正红色 ― zhèng hóngsè ― pure red
pretty; attractive; beautiful
(Cantonese) awesome; fantastic
依間餐廳正呀！ [Cantonese, trad.]
依间餐厅正呀！ [Cantonese, simp.]
ji¹ gaan¹ caan¹ teng¹ zeng³ aa³! [Jyutping]
This restaurant is awesome!
just now; right now; in the process of
我正等著呢。／我正等着呢。 ― Wǒ zhèng děng zhe ne. ― I'm waiting.
外面正在下雪。 ― Wàimiàn zhèngzài xiàxuě. ― It's snowing outside.
那時候我正在上海讀書。 [MSC, trad.]
那时候我正在上海读书。 [MSC, simp.]
Nà shíhòu wǒ zhèng zài Shànghǎi dúshū. [Pinyin]
At that time I was studying in Shanghai
just; exactly; precisely
正如你剛才說的。／正如你刚才说的。 ― Zhèngrú nǐ gāngcái shuō de. ― Precisely as you have said just now
to straighten; to make straight
把帽子正一正 ― bǎ màozǐ zhèng yī zhèng ― to straighten out one’s hat
- 君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻視，儼然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  君子正其衣冠，尊其瞻视，俨然人望而畏之，斯不亦威而不猛乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Jūnzǐ zhèng qí yīguān, zūn qí zhānshì, yǎnrán rén wàng ér wèi zhī, sī bù yì wēi ér bù měng hū? [Pinyin]
  He adjusts his clothes and cap, and throws a dignity into his looks, so that, thus dignified, he is looked at with awe - is not this to be majestic without being fierce?
to make right; to rectify; to correct
正音 ― zhèngyīn ― to correct one's pronunciation
(numeral) ten duodecillion(10⁴⁰)
(mathematics) regular
正六邊形／正六边形 ― zhèng liùbiānxíng ― regular hexagon
正四面體／正四面体 ― zhèng sìmiàntǐ ― regular tetrahedron
(mathematics) positive; plus
正整數／正整数 ― zhèng zhěngshù ― positive integer
(physics) positive
正極／正极 ― zhèngjí ― positive pole
(time) sharp; on the dot
正午 ― zhèngwǔ ― noon
而家係五點正。 [Cantonese, trad.]
而家系五点正。 [Cantonese, simp.]
ji⁴ gaa¹ hai⁶ ng⁵ dim² zing³. [Jyutping]
It's 5 o'clock on the dot.
(Hakka, Teochew) only; merely
(Hakka, Teochew) just; just now
(Hakka, Teochew) only then; only after
(Hakka, Teochew) Used to emphasize that something is/is not.
(Min Nan) right (direction)
a surname
(tally marks) five (successive strokes of 正 are added in writing sequence to tally a count of five per character)

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 才 (“only after; only then; not ... until”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		才₂, 方
Mandarin	Taiwan	才₂
Cantonese	Guangzhou	先, 至, 先至
Cantonese	Hong Kong	先, 至, 先至
Hakka	Meixian	正
Min Nan	Xiamen	才₃
	Quanzhou	才₃
	Zhangzhou	才₃
	Shantou	正

Dialectal synonyms of 右 (“right”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		右
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		右
Mandarin	Beijing	右
	Taiwan	右
	Tianjin	右
	Chengde	右
	Tangshan	右
	Cangzhou	右
	Baoding	右
	Shijiazhuang	右
	Chifeng	右
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	右
	Heihe	右
	Qiqihar	右
	Harbin	右
	Jiamusi	右
	Baicheng	右
	Changchun	右
	Tonghua	右
	Shenyang	右
	Dandong	右
	Jinzhou	右
	Dalian	右
	Yantai	右
	Qingdao	右
	Lijin	右
	Zhucheng	右
	Jinan	右
	Jining	右
	Wanrong	右
	Shangqiu	右
	Yuanyang	右
	Zhengzhou	右
	Lingbao	右
	Xinyang	右
	Baihe	右
	Hanzhong	右
	Xi'an	右
	Baoji	右
	Yinchuan	右
	Tianshui	右
	Lanzhou	右
	Dunhuang	右
	Xining	右
	Hami	右
	Ürümqi	右
	Wuhan	右
	Yichang	右
	Xiangyang	右
	Tianmen	右
	Hong'an	右
	Chengdu	右
	Nanchong	右
	Dazhou	右
	Hanyuan	右
	Xichang	右
	Zigong	右
	Chongqing	右
	Guiyang	右
	Zunyi	右
	Bijie	右
	Liping	右
	Zhaotong	右
	Dali	右
	Kunming	右
	Mengzi	右
Guilin	右
Liuzhou	右
Jishou	右
Changde	右
Anqing	右
Xuzhou	右
Fuyang	右
Wuhu	右
Yangzhou	右
Lianyungang	右
Lianshui	右
Nanjing	右
Hefei	右
Nantong	右
Malaysia	右
Singapore	右
Cantonese	Guangzhou	右
	Hong Kong	右
	Macau	右
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	右
	Singapore (Guangfu)	右
Gan	Lichuan	右
Huizhou	Shexian	右
Jin	Taiyuan	右
	Yangyuan	右
	Datong	右
	Xinzhou	右
	Lishi	右
	Linfen	右
	Changzhi	右
	Linhe	右
	Jining	右
	Hohhot	右
	Erenhot	右
	Pingshan	右
	Zhangjiakou	右
	Handan	右
	Linzhou	右
	Suide	右
Min Dong	Fuzhou	右
Min Nan	Xiamen	正
	Quanzhou	正
	Zhangzhou	正
	Taipei	正
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	正
	Kaohsiung	正
	Yilan	正
	Changhua (Lukang)	正
	Taichung	正
	Tainan	正
	Hsinchu	正
	Kinmen	正
	Penghu (Magong)	正
	Penang (Hokkien)	正
	Singapore (Hokkien)	正
	Manila (Hokkien)	正
	Chaozhou	正
	Shantou	正
	Jieyang	正
	Singapore (Teochew)	正
	Wenchang	右

Antonyms

(right): (Min Nan) 倒 (tò, “left”)

Compounds

Derived terms from 正

一本正經／一本正经
三正
上梁不正
上正
不務正業／不务正业
不正
不正知
不正經／不正经
不當不正／不当不正
不端不正
中正
中正大學／中正大学
九品中正
令正
伸張正義／伸张正义
來日正長／来日正长
保正
修正
修正主義／修正主义
修正液
假正經／假正经
先正
光明正大
八正道
公平正大
公正
公正證書／公正证书
共同正犯
冊正／册正
判正
削正
剛板硬正／刚板硬正
剛正／刚正
剛正不阿／刚正不阿
勘正
匡正
午正
卯正
危言正色
去邪從正／去邪从正
去邪歸正／去邪归正
反正
反邪歸正／反邪归正
可正是
名正具
名正肅／名正肃
名正言順／名正言顺
呂蒙正／吕蒙正
呈正
咬合不正
嚴正／严正
嚴氣正性／严气正性
堂堂正正
堂皇正大
壽終正寢／寿终正寝
大公至正
大正
天心正法
奉公正己
字正腔圓／字正腔圆
孝廉方正
守正不回
守正不撓／守正不挠
守正不移
守正不阿
安宅正路
宗正
導正／导正
就地正法
就正
居正
崇正黜邪
工正
希臘正教／希腊正教
平正
平頭正臉／平头正脸
廉正
弘正文學／弘正文学
彩色正片
律呂正義／律吕正义
心正筆正／心正笔正
心術不正／心术不正
忠正
恭本正傳／恭本正传
恰正
惡直醜正／恶直丑正
成正果
戶口校正／户口校正
打正快
扶正
扶正黜邪
技正
持正
持正不撓／持正不挠
持正不阿
指正
挑正梁
撥亂反正／拨乱反正
撥正／拨正
改正
改邪歸正／改邪归正
教正
斂衽正容／敛衽正容
斧正
方方正正
方正
方正不苟
方正不阿
明公正氣／明公正气
明公正義／明公正义
明公正道
明堂正道
明婚正配
明媒正娶
明媒正配
明正
明正典刑
是正
更正
更正啟事／更正启事
書歸正傳／书归正传
朝正
東正教／东正教
枉己正人
校正
棄邪從正／弃邪从正
棄邪歸正／弃邪归正
樂正／乐正
正三角形
正中
正中下懷／正中下怀
正中己懷／正中己怀
正中紅心／正中红心
正事
正事主
正人

正人君子
正位
正值
正傳／正传
正像
正冠李下
正冠納履／正冠纳履
正凶
正出
正切
正則／正则
正割
正劇／正剧
正務／正务
正午
正反合
正取
正史
正合我意
正名
正名責實／正名责实
正味
正命
正品
正在
正堂
正多邊形／正多边形
正多面體／正多面体
正大
正大光明
正大堂煌
正好
正妻
正始之音
正始文學／正始文学
正始玄風／正始玄风
正始體／正始体
正字
正字標記／正字标记
正字法
正字通
正宅
正宗
正定
正室
正宮／正宫
正寢／正寝
正寫／正写
正對／正对
正屋
正巧
正己守道
正常
正常化
正店
正座
正庫／正库
正廳／正厅
正式
正弦
正待
正後像／正后像
正德
正心
正心誠意／正心诚意
正念
正思惟
正意
正房
正手板
正授
正教
正整數／正整数
正數／正数
正文
正斷層／正断层
正方
正方形
正方晶系
正方體／正方体
正明師／正明师
正是
正書／正书
正末
正本
正本清源
正本溯源
正果
正枝正葉／正枝正叶
正格
正業／正业
正極／正极
正楷
正橋／正桥
正歌
正正堂堂
正正經經／正正经经
正步
正殿
正比
正比例
正氣／正气
正氣歌／正气歌
正沖／正冲
正法
正法直度
正法眼藏
正派
正港
正片
正牌
正犯
正理
正番鴨／正番鸭
正當／正当
正當中／正当中
正直
正直清廉
正直無私／正直无私
正直無邪／正直无邪
正眼
正確／正确
正章
正統／正统
正統派／正统派
正經／正经
正經八百／正经八百
正義／正义
正義感／正义感
正聲／正声
正聲雅音／正声雅音
正職／正职
正自
正色
正色危言
正色敢言

正色直言
正號／正号
正襟
正襟危坐
正要
正見／正见
正規／正规
正規軍／正规军
正視／正视
正視繩行／正视绳行
正覺／正觉
正言
正言不諱／正言不讳
正言厲色／正言厉色
正言厲顏／正言厉颜
正言直諫／正言直谏
正話／正话
正該／正该
正語／正语
正誤／正误
正誤表／正误表
正課／正课
正論／正论
正路
正身
正身明法
正身清心
正身率下
正軌／正轨
正途
正道
正配
正鋒／正锋
正門／正门
正陽門／正阳门
正陽關／正阳关
正集團／正集团
正電／正电
正電子／正电子
正面
正面人物
正面攻擊／正面攻击
正音
正音法
正韻／正韵
正項／正项
正頭／正头
正頭娘子／正头娘子
正頭香主／正头香主
正題／正题
正顏／正颜
正顏厲色／正颜厉色
正風／正风
正餐
正骨
正體／正体
正鯨／正鲸
正鹽／正盐
正點／正点
正點背畫／正点背画
歪打正著
歷正／历正
歸正／归正
歸正反本／归正反本
沒正經／没正经
洪武正韻／洪武正韵
浩然正氣／浩然正气
清原正本
清正
澄源正本
疾終正寢／疾终正寝
皈正
直言正色
直言正論／直言正论
直言正諫／直言正谏
真正
真贓正賊／真赃正贼
矯枉過正／矫枉过正
矯正／矫正
矯正處分／矫正处分
矯邪歸正／矫邪归正
破邪顯正／破邪显正
神清氣正／神清气正
福德正神
秉正
立正
端人正士
端本正源
端正
端端正正
糾正／纠正
糾正權／纠正权
純正／纯正
結正／结正
繩正／绳正
羅馬正教／罗马正教
義正詞嚴／义正词严
義正辭嚴／义正辞严
舉正／举正
舍正從邪／舍正从邪
芒寒色正
董正
補正／补正
規正／规正
言歸正傳／言归正传
訂正／订正
詞嚴義正／词严义正
誠心正意／诚心正意
譎而不正／谲而不正
負負得正／负负得正
賢良方正／贤良方正
轉正／转正
辨正
辭嚴氣正／辞严气正
辭嚴義正／辞严义正
返正撥亂／返正拨乱
遷正／迁正
邪不勝正／邪不胜正
邪不干正
郢正
里正
釐正
間接正犯／间接正犯
閣正／阁正
隆正
雅正
雍正
雨無正／雨无正
非正式
音正詞圓／音正词圆
頭正／头正
題目正名／题目正名
風華正茂／风华正茂
駁正／驳正
駮正／驳正
驗明正身／验明正身

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): zhēng (zheng¹)
(Zhuyin): ㄓㄥ
Cantonese (Jyutping): zing¹
Hakka (Sixian, PFS): châng
Min Dong (BUC): ciăng / cĭng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): chiaⁿ
(Teochew, Peng'im): zian¹
Wu (Wiktionary): tsen (T1)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zhēng
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄥ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jheng
  - Wade–Giles: chêng¹
  - Yale: jēng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jeng
  - Palladius: чжэн (čžɛn)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: zing¹
  - Yale: jīng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dzing¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: jing¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: châng
  - Hakka Romanization System: zang´
  - Hagfa Pinyim: zang¹
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡saŋ²⁴/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: ciăng / cĭng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡siaŋ⁵⁵/, /t͡siŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

ciăng - vernacular;
cĭng - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiaⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tsiann
  - Phofsit Daibuun: cviaf
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /t͡ɕiã³³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /t͡ɕiã⁴⁴/
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: zian¹
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsiaⁿ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sĩã³³/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: tsen (T1)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡səɲ⁵³/

Middle Chinese: /t͡ɕiᴇŋ/

Rime
Character	正
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	章 (23)
Final (韻)	清 (121)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	諸盈切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡ɕiᴇŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/t͡ɕiɛŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡ɕiæŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ciajŋ/
Li Rong	/t͡ɕiɛŋ/
Wang Li	/t͡ɕĭɛŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/t͡ɕi̯ɛŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	zhēng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	zing¹

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*C.teŋ/
(Zhengzhang): /*tjeŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	正
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	zhēng
Middle Chinese	‹ tsyeng ›
Old Chinese	/*C.teŋ/
English	1st (month)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	正
Reading #	1/2
No.	17171
Phonetic component	正
Rime group	耕
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	征
Old Chinese	/*tjeŋ/
Notes	甲文從止丁聲，徵初文

Definitions

正

first (month of the lunar year)
新正 ― xīnzhēng ― first month of the lunar new year
^† bull's eye; centre of target
^† target; goal
^† Original form of 征 (zhēng, “to levy”).
^† Original form of 征 (zhēng, “to go on a punitive expedition”).

Compounds

Derived terms from 正

夏正
奉其正朔
新正

正旦
正月
正朔

正鵠／正鹄
殷正
賀正／贺正

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (正):

→ Japanese: 正(しょう) (shō); 正(せい) (sei)
→ Korean: 정(正) (jeong)
→ Vietnamese: chính (正), chánh (正)

Others:

Lao: ຈຽງ (chīang, “first month of the lunar year”)
Lü: ᦵᦈᧂ (ṫseng, “first month in Dai lunar calendar, starting in November”)
Northern Thai: ᨠ᩠ᨿᨦ (“first month of the lunar year”)
Shan: ၸဵင် (tsǎeng, “first month of the Shan year, starting December-January”)
Ahom: 𑜋𑜢𑜂𑜫 (chiṅ, “first month of the lunar year”)
Vietnamese: giêng (“first month of the Vietnamese lunar year, starting January-February”)

Japanese

Kanji

正

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

correct
justice
(arithmetic) positive
(geometry) regular

Readings

Go-on: しょう (shō, Jōyō)^{←しやう (syau, historical)}
Kan-on: せい (sei, Jōyō)
Kun: ただしい (tadashii, 正しい, Jōyō); ただす (tadasu, 正す, Jōyō); まさ (masa, 正, Jōyō); まさに (masani, 正に)
Nanori: おお (ō); くに (kuni); ま (ma); まさし (masashi); ただし (tadashi)

Compounds

正(しょう)覚(がく) (shōgaku)
正(しょう)月(がつ) (shōgatsu)
正(しょう)客(きゃく) (shōkyaku)
正(しょう)直(じき) (shōjiki)
正(しょう)体(たい) (shōtai)
正(しょう)札(ふだ) (shōfuda)
正(しょう)法(ぶ) (shōbu)
正(しょう)本(ほん) (shōhon)
正(しょう)味(み) (shōmi)
正(しょう)面(めん) (shōmen)
正(まさ)夢(ゆめ) (masayume)
正門(せいもん) (seimon)

Derived terms

正(せい)史(し) (seishi)
正(せい)義(ぎ) (seigi)
正(せい)確(かく) (seikaku)
正(せい)眼(がん) (seigan)
正(せい)鵠(こく) (seikoku)
正(せい)式(しき) (seishiki)
正(せい)規(き) (seiki)
正(せい)解(かい) (seikai)
正(せい)史(し) (seishi)
正(せい)使(し) (seishi)
正(せい)視(し) (seishi)
正(せい)書(しょ) (seisho)
正(せい)字(じ) (seiji)
正(せい)邪(じゃ) (seija)
正(せい)常(じょう) (seijō)
正(せい)数(すう) (seisū)
正(せい)々(せい)堂(どう)々(どう) (seiseidōdō)
正(せい)則(そく) (seisoku)
正(せい)道(どう) (seidō)
正(せい)犯(はん) (seihan)
正(せい)否(ひ) (seihi)
正(せい)比(ひ)例(れい) (seihirei)
正(せい)文(ぶん) (seibun)
正(せい)論(ろん) (seiron)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
正
せい Grade: 1
kan’on

Noun

正(せい) • (sei)

correctness

Pronoun

正(せい) • (sei)

生: (humble) I or me, the first person singular (used by males)

Numeral

正(せい) • (sei)

A number of ten-duodecillion(10⁴⁰) in modern Japanese since 17th century.
5, as tally marks. Similar to four vertical lines followed by a slanted horizontal line crossing through them, this character is used to count to 5 stroke by stroke. Thus this kanji written up to the third stroke represents 3. After the fifth and final stroke, when this character is completed, one starts writing this character again to count to higher numbers.

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
正
しょう Grade: 1
goon

Prefix

正(しょう) • (shō-)

(history) "senior" ranking for 位 (-i, “Japanese courtier rank”)
Antonym: 従 (ju-)
正(しょう)一(いち)位(い)
shōichii
senior rank 1
正(しょう)三(さん)位(み)
shōsanmi
senior rank 3
正(しょう)九(く)位(い)
shōkui
senior rank 9
正: exactly (of a number)

Adjective

正(しょう) • (shō) -na (adnominal 正(しょう)な (shō na), adverbial 正(しょう)に (shō ni))

proper; straight, direct; genuine, true

Numeral

Kanji in this term
正
しょう Grade: 1
on’yomi

正(しょう) • (shō)

ten-duodecillion(10⁴⁰)

Proper noun

Kanji in this term
正
ただし Grade: 1
nanori

Kanji in this term
正
まさし Grade: 1
nanori

正(まさし) or 正(ただし) • (Masashi or Tadashi)

a male given name

Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 正 (MC t͡ɕiᴇŋ^H).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean 져ᇰ〮 (Yale: cyéng) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Recorded as Middle Korean 졍 (cyeng)^訓 (Yale: cyeng) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɘ(ː)ŋ]
Phonetic hangul: [정(ː)]
- Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource正 (eumhun 바를 정 (bareul jeong))

Hanja form^? of 정 (“straight; upright; erect”).

Compounds

정규 (正規, jeonggyu)
정답 (正答, jeongdap)
정당 (正當, jeongdang)
정도 (正道, jeongdo)
정면 (正面, jeongmyeon)
정문 (正門, jeongmun)
정상 (正常, jeongsang)
정색 (正色, jeongsaek)
정식 (正式, jeongsik)
정안 (正眼, jeong'an)
정오 (正午, jeong'o)
정오 (正誤, jeong'o)
정원 (正員, jeong'won)
정의 (正義, jeong'ui)
정장 (正裝, jeongjang)
정직 (正直, jeongjik)
정체 (正體, jeongche)
정통 (正統, jeongtong)
정품 (正品, jeongpum)
정화 (正貨, jeonghwa)
정확 (正確, jeonghwak)
개정 (改正, gaejeong)
경정 (更正, gyeongjeong)
경정 (梗正, gyeongjeong)
공정 (公正, gongjeong)
광정 (匡正, gwangjeong)
교정 (校正, gyojeong)
교정 (矯正, gyojeong)
단정 (端正, danjeong)
당정 (黨正, dangjeong)
동정 (董正, dongjeong)
방정 (方正, bangjeong)
보정 (補正, bojeong)
부정 (不正, bujeong)
사정 (査正, sajeong)
사정 (邪正, sajeong)
삼정 (芟正, samjeong)
서정 (緖正, seojeong)
수정 (修正, sujeong)
숙정 (肅正, sukjeong)
시정 (是正, sijeong)
엄정 (嚴正, eomjeong)
염정 (廉正, yeomjeong)
오정 (午正, ojeong)
이정 (里正, ijeong)
이정 (釐正, ijeong)
인정 (寅正, injeong)
자정 (子正, jajeong)
적정 (適正, jeokjeong)
정정 (訂正, jeongjeong)
진정 (眞正, jinjeong)
질정 (質正, jiljeong)
칙정 (飭正, chikjeong)
현정 (顯正, hyeonjeong)
정반대 (正反對, jeongbandae)
정범자 (正犯者, jeongbeomja)
정비례 (正比例, jeongbirye)

Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 正 (MC t͡ɕiᴇŋ).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean 져ᇰ (Yale: cyeng) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕʌ̹ŋ]
Phonetic hangul: [정]

Hanja

正 (eumhun 정월(正月) 정 (jeong'wol jeong))

Hanja form^? of 정 (“first (month of the lunar year)”).
Hanja form^? of 정 (“target”).

Compounds

정월 (正月, jeong'wol)
신정 (新正, sinjeong)
하정 (賀正, hajeong)
정삭 (正朔, jeongsak)
정곡 (正鵠, jeonggok)
정일 (正日, jeong'il)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

正: Hán Việt readings: chinh (之(chi)盛(thịnh)切(thiết)), chánh[1][2], chính[3][4][1][2][5]
正: Nôm readings: chánh[3][4][1][2][5], chênh[1], chính[3][4][1][2][6], chếnh[1][7][2][5][6], chiếng[3], chỉnh[1], giêng[1]

chữ Hán form of chánh (“chief; head”).
chữ Hán form of chính (“main; major, chief; just, righteous”).
Nôm form of chếnh.

Derived terms

Compounds

不正 (bất chính)
改正 (cải chính)
真正 (chân chính)
正当 (chính đáng)
正名 (chính danh)
正义 (chính nghĩa)
正果 (chính quả)
正國 (chính quốc)
正統 (chính thống)
正式 (chính thức)
正直 (chính trực)
正确 (chính xác)
公正 (công chính)
訂正 (đính chính)
端正 (đoan chính)
效正 (hiệu chính)
廉正 (liêm chính)
男正 (nam chính)
严正 (nghiêm chính)
女正 (nữ chính)
斧正 (phủ chính)
歸正 (quy chính)
修正 (tu chính)

References

Trần (2004).
Bonet (1899).
Nguyễn (2014).
Nguyễn et al. (2009).
Génibrel (1898).
Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).
Hồ (1976).

[gdhn-1] Trần (2004).

[bonet-2] Bonet (1899).

[tdcndg-3] Nguyễn (2014).

[tdcntd-4] Nguyễn et al. (2009).

[genibrel-5] Génibrel (1898).

[taberd-6] Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).

[btcn-7] Hồ (1976).