正

zhēng, zhèng

一 + 止

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

zhèng (adjective) straight; upright; proper; correct

zhèng (adjective) main; principal

zhèng (verb) to correct; to rectify

zhèng (adverb) exactly; just; right

zhèng (adjective) positive (in mathematics)

zhēng (noun) first month of lunar year

Etymology

Depicts a foot (止) going out towards city walls (丁). 丁 also represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "to attack (an enemy)", now written as 征. The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "correct".

About

The character 正 originally depicted a foot (止) advancing directly toward city walls (丁), symbolizing a military expedition or attack. 丁 also served as a phonetic component, hinting at the pronunciation. Over time, the sense of moving straight ahead shifted to denote straightness, correctness, and moral uprightness, making 正 an adjective for what is proper, positive, and well-aligned. The original meaning of 'to attack' was later transferred to the derived character 征, leaving 正 to express notions of accuracy, exactness, and spatial or ethical alignment. In its modern form, the top element appears as 一, but its source lies in the city-wall shape 丁.