正 Stroke Order — How to Write 正
正 is written in 5 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 止, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
正 Radical and Character Components
正 is an ideographic compound. A foot 止 stopping in the right place 一.
Radical: 止 + 1 more stroke
正 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- zhèng
- zhēng
Meanings of 正 in Chinese
1
zhèng正
Straight; not crooked; exactly in the middle; precise.
小明把画挂在墙壁正中。
Xiao Ming hung the painting exactly in the middle of the wall.
conforming to rules, standards, or principles; proper, upright, or legitimate
他行事一向正大光明，从不背后搞小动作。
He has always acted openly and aboveboard, never resorting to secret maneuvers.
Righteous, correct, or conforming to reason and moral principles.
我们应该坚持做正确的事情，维护社会的正义。
We should insist on doing correct things and uphold social justice.
exactly; just right; precisely
这个尺寸正合适。
This size is just right.
To indicate an action is currently in progress or happening.
我正在看书。
I am currently reading a book.
The main, principal, or front part, in contrast to a secondary or opposite part; positive.
我们应该积极面对挑战，保持正面心态。
We should actively face challenges and maintain a positive mindset.
Authentic, genuine, or pure (referring to origin or style).
这家餐馆的意大利面味道很正宗。
The pasta at this restaurant tastes very authentic.
To correct, rectify, or set straight deviations or errors.
老师正在给学生们正音。
The teacher is correcting the students' pronunciation.
Refers to a geometric figure where all sides are of equal length and all angles are of equal measure, like a regular polygon or a square.
这个公园有一个正方形的花坛。
This park has a square flower bed.
Positive, referring to an electric charge resulting from the loss of electrons, the opposite of 'negative'.
带正电的物体会吸引带负电的物体。
A positively charged object will attract a negatively charged object.
Greater than zero; positive; opposite of negative.
正数是大于零的数。
A positive number is a number greater than zero.
2
zhēng正
Refers to 'zhēng yuè' (正月), the first month of the lunar calendar, sometimes abbreviated as 'zhēng', as in 'xīnzhēng' (新正) for the New Year period.
每年新正，我们都会去祖母家拜年。
Every New Year (first lunar month), we go to grandmother's house to pay New Year's greetings.
Common Words and Phrases with 正
1
original or official copy of a document
请您务必保留这份协议的正本，以备将来核查。
Please be sure to keep the original copy of this agreement for future verification.
2
To tackle a problem at its source and set things right; to radically reform by striking at the root of the evil.
面对日益增多的网络谣言，我们必须正本清源，加强信息审核与公众教育，才能有效遏制其传播。
To effectively curb the spread of increasing online rumors, we must address the root causes, strengthening information review and public education.
3
Direct ratio or direct proportion, a relationship where two variables have a constant ratio.
一个圆的周长与它的直径成正比。
The circumference of a circle is directly proportional to its diameter.
4
Direct proportion means that two quantities increase or decrease together at the same rate, maintaining a constant ratio.
商品的总价与购买数量成正比例关系。
The total price of goods is directly proportional to the quantity purchased.
5
goose step
为了在校运会开幕式上展现风采，同学们刻苦训练，反复练习走正步
To showcase their best at the school sports meet opening ceremony, the students trained diligently, repeatedly practicing the parade step.
6
7
In old times, a regular population register for 'good citizens', as opposed to a 'special register' for others.
在村里的族谱中，只有世代居住于此的家族才能被记入正册。
In the village's family genealogy, only families who have lived here for generations could be recorded in the main register.
8
mature delivery
经过九个月的孕育，她终于迎来了健康的宝宝，一切都非常顺利，属于典型的正产。
After nine months of pregnancy, she finally welcomed her healthy baby; everything went very smoothly, a typical normal delivery.
9
10
children born by the legal wife; legitimate children
他是家里的长子，也是唯一的正出，自然担负起家族的重任。
He is the eldest son of the family, and also the only legitimate child, naturally bearing the heavy responsibility of the family.
11
The main story or principal narrative of a novel or storytelling performance; often used to mean 'let's get back to the main topic'.
这部武侠小说的正传部分讲述了主角历经磨难终成一代宗师的故事。
The main narrative of this wuxia novel tells the story of the protagonist overcoming hardships to become a master.
12
upright and honorable; just and fair
他为人正大，言行都值得信赖
He is an upright person, and his words and actions are trustworthy.
13
just and honourable; upright and open
他做事一向正大光明，从不搞小动作。
He always acts with integrity and candor, never engaging in underhanded tactics.
14
The first day of the lunar year; also, the main female role (Qingyi) in Chinese opera.
每年正旦，家家户户都会贴上春联，迎接新年的到来。
Every year on Zhengdan, every household puts up spring couplets to welcome the arrival of the New Year.
15
proper, legitimate, just, reasonable, honest, or opportune
他有正当理由缺席今天的会议。
He has a legitimate reason to be absent from today's meeting.
More words with 正
- jiǎo矫zhèng正Correct, Rectify
- bō拨zhèng正set right; correct
- dìng订zhèng正To correct or amend errors.
- fú扶zhèng正set right, rectify
- fǔ斧zhèng正correct my work, criticize and correct
- kuāng匡zhèng正rectify, correct
- lián廉zhèng正honest and upright; integrity
- wù务zhèng正Attend to principal duties
- jiū纠zhèng正Correct, Rectify
- kān勘zhèng正to proofread and correct
- chéng呈zhèng正Is correct, For verification
- lí厘zhèng正Correct, Revise
- lìng令zhèng正your esteemed wife
- téng誊zhèng正make a fair copy, engross
- bó驳zhèng正refute and correct
- gōng恭zhèng正Reverent and just, Respectful and proper
- zhèng正què确correct, right
- zhèng正shì式formal, official
- zhèng正shì是exactly, precisely
- zhèng正yì义Justice, Righteousness
Idioms with 正
- zhèng正ér儿bā八jīng经proper, earnest, and serious
- zhèng正jīn襟wēi危zuò坐sit up straight and formally
- zhèng正qì气lǐn凛rán然radiating awe-inspiring integrity and righteousness
- zhèng正rén人jūn君zi子a hypocritical gentleman
- zhèng正xīn心chéng诚yì意to have an upright mind and sincere intentions
- zhèng正yán言lì厉sè色speak sternly with a severe expression
- zhèng正yán颜lì厉sè色to assume a stern and severe expression
- zhèng正zhèng正dāng当dāng当fair and square
- zhèng正zhí直wú无sī私upright and selfless
- zhèng正zhòng中xià下huái怀exactly what one wants
- bō拨luàn乱fǎn反zhèng正restore order out of chaos
- bù不wù务zhèng正yè业neglect proper business
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Open the tool →Questions about 正
What does 正 mean in Chinese?
正 (zhèng) means “Straight” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 正?
正 has 2 pronunciations: zhèng, zhēng.
How many strokes does 正 have?
正 has 5 strokes.
How do you write 正?
正 is written in 5 strokes, starting from the radical 止. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 正?
The radical of 正 is 止, and 正 is an ideographic compound.
