正
Character learning workspace

zhēng / zhèng · straight, right, proper, correct, just, true

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 2Frequency #294
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 正

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

正 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

zhēng

first month of the lunar year

正月zhēng yuè · first month of the lunar year
zhèng

straight; upright; proper

正在zhèng zài · to be in the process of
Step-by-step explorer

See how 正 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

5Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

止Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 正 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 正

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

zhèngstraight; upright; proper
zhēngfirst month of the lunar year
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 正 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ juéde nǐ zhèng zài zuò de shì cuò de.我觉得你正在做的是错的。

I think that what you're doing is wrong.

Source: Tatoeba #8795145 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nà shì yí gè zhēn zhèng de rén.那是一个真正的人。

That's a real person.

Source: Tatoeba #402774 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhèng hǎo yǒu nǐ xū yào de dōng xī.我正好有你需要的東西。

I have exactly what you need.

Source: Tatoeba #13857134 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhège kàn fǎ kě néng shì zhèng què de.这个看法可能是正确的。

Maybe this opinion is correct.

Source: Tatoeba #888422 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè zhèng rú wǒ xiǎng de yí yàng.这正如我想的一样。

It was just as I thought.

Source: Tatoeba #866236 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè jiù shì nǐ zhèng zài zhǎo de nà běn shū.这就是你正在找的那本书。

This is the book which you are looking for.

Source: Tatoeba #335420 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 正 in context

  1. Say zhēng / zhèng, then recall the core meaning: straight, right, proper, correct, just, true.
  2. Write all 5 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 正在 (zhèng zài), meaning “to be in the process of”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 正 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.