真(ま)っ正直(しょうじき)

まっしょうじき
na-adjective
dead honest; completely straightforward
descriptive
1. dead honest; completely straightforward; utterly sincere
An intensified form of 正直 (honest), meaning someone is honest to a fault — so honest that it can sometimes work against them. The まっ prefix adds emphasis, like 'dead' or 'completely' in English.
彼(かれ)は真(ま)っ正直(しょうじき)な人(ひと)だ。
He is a completely honest person.
真(ま)っ正直(しょうじき)に答(こた)えたら怒(おこ)られた。
I answered completely honestly and got scolded.
真(ま)っ正直(しょうじき)すぎて、お世辞(せじ)が言(い)えないタイプだ。
He's so dead honest that he can't give compliments.

Usage

The prefix まっ (from 真(ま)) intensifies 正直(しょうじき). Often implies that the person's honesty is naive or excessive — they might say things that are better left unsaid. Can be used admiringly or with mild exasperation.

Forms

The まっ prefix is a common intensifier: 真(ま)っ白(しろ) (pure white), 真(ま)っ赤(か) (bright red), 真(ま)っ暗(くら) (pitch dark), 真(ま)っ直(す)ぐ (dead straight).

Similar words