JLPT N2 grammar

真（ま）meaning and usage

Meaning

Completely A, exactly A

How to form it

  • 真noun
  • 真っnoun/い-adjective stem (without い)
  • 真んnoun
  • 真い-adjective

How it is used

A prefix meaning 'completely', 'exactly' or 'pure': 「真冬」 (the dead of winter), 「真上」 (directly above), 「真新しい」 (brand-new). Before some words it becomes 「まっ」 or 「まん」: 「真っ白」, 「真ん中」. It only appears in set words and cannot be added freely.

Examples

  1. 彼は道路の真ん中に立っている。

    He is standing right in the middle of the road.

  2. 真夏の昼間に外を歩くのは大変だ。

    Walking outside in the middle of the day in midsummer is tough.

  3. 停電で、部屋の中が真っ暗になった。

    The power went out, and the room went pitch-dark.