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真

真 — true, reality, Buddhist sect

Learn the correct stroke order for 真 (true), a 10-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 310 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 10
On'yomi (音読み)シンshin
Kun'yomi (訓読み)まma、ま-ma、まことmakoto
Strokes10
Radical目
Frequency#279
Meaningstrue, reality, Buddhist sect

Step-by-Step Diagram

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Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 10 — start from the green dot

Common Words

写真しゃしんphotograph; photo; picturenoun
真意しんいreal intention; true motive; true meaningnoun
真価しんかtrue value; real worthnoun
真夏まなつmiddle of summer; height of summer; midsummernoun
真顔まがおserious look (on one's face); straight facenoun
真偽しんぎtruth or falsehood; genuineness; authenticitynoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 真 (true) is taught in grade 3 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 10 strokes with radical 目.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 真 is #279, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

写真しゃしん — photograph; photo; picture
真意しんい — real intention; true motive; true meaning
真価しんか — true value; real worth

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (目)

目eye直straightaway盲blind相inter-県prefecture省government ministry看watch over盾shield

Same reading

新new心heart親parent

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 真 have?

The kanji 真 (true) has 10 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 真?

真 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 真 mean?

真 means: true, reality, Buddhist sect. On'yomi readings: シン. Kun'yomi readings: ま, ま-, まこと.

What JLPT level is 真?

真 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.