真(しん)

しん
noun
truth; the real thing; (prefix) true; genuine
1. truth; reality; what is genuine
Used as a noun for 'the truth' or 'the real essence' of something. Mostly appears in set phrases and formal/literary contexts.
真(しん)を追究(ついきゅう)する。
To pursue the truth.
真(しん)の勇気(ゆうき)とは何(なに)か。
What is true courage?
彼(かれ)の言葉(ことば)の真(しん)を理解(りかい)するには時間(じかん)がかかった。
It took time to understand the true meaning of his words.
2. true; genuine; real (prefix)
Used as a noun-modifier or prefix meaning 'true' or 'real' — emphasizing that something is the genuine, authentic version. Attaches to many nouns to form compounds.
真(しん)犯人(はんにん)が捕(つか)まった。
The true culprit was caught.
真(しん)冬(ふゆ)の寒(さむ)さは厳(きび)しい。
The cold of midwinter is harsh.
この店(みせ)の真(しん)の価値(かち)は接客(せっきゃく)にあると思(おも)う。
I think the true value of this restaurant lies in its service.

Highly productive as a prefix; rare as a standalone noun in everyday speech. Sense 1 mostly appears in formal/literary or philosophical contexts.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 真(しん)実(じつ): truth (the more common everyday word)
  • 真(しん)犯人(はんにん): true culprit; real perpetrator
  • 真(しん)相(そう): real state of affairs
  • 真(しん)冬(ふゆ): midwinter
  • 真(しん)夏(なつ): midsummer
  • 真(しん)価(か): true value; real worth

NOTES ON READING:
真(しん) is the on'yomi reading. The kun'yomi 真(ま) (often written まこと in standalone use) gives a different set of compounds: 真(ま)っ白(しろ) (pure white), 真(ま)っ暗(くら) (pitch dark), etc. Context and the following sound usually make the reading clear.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 真実(しんじつ): truth — the standard everyday noun for 'truth'
  • 本当(ほんとう): real; true; truth — colloquial, very common
  • 正(せい): correct; proper — emphasizes correctness rather than authenticity
general
Added 2026.6.6 13:04
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