Writing
正 (zhèng) — how to say "straight" in Chinese
正
Straight, correct
time adverb · adjective
1. just; exactly; right now (in the middle of)HSK 3.0 · level 2
time adverb
2. straight; upright; correct; mainHSK 3.0 · level 5
adjective
How to use it
Goes after the subject, before the verb.
我正吃饭。
wǒ zhèng chī fàn
I am just eating.
Radicals / Keys
止
Stop
#77 · zhǐ · 4 strokes
Collocations
改正错误
gǎizhèng cuòwù
correct a mistake
正前方
zhèng qiánfāng
straight ahead
Examples
他坐在椅子上，身体坐得很正。
He sits on the chair with his back straight.
答案正。
The answer is correct.
Mnemonic
[zhèng-] Jenny, a tidy raccoon, builds a tower of blocks. She stacks them perfectly straight, one on top of another. "Look how straight and correct!" she says. The wind blows, but the tower stays straight because Jenny did everything correctly. 🦝🧱
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "straight" in Chinese?
"straight" in Chinese is 正 (zhèng).
What does 正 mean in English?
正 (zhèng) means "Straight, correct".
How is 正 pronounced?
It is pronounced zhèng (written as zheng). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "straight" in Chinese characters?
It is written 正 and has 5 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 正?
正 belongs to the HSK 5 vocabulary list.
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Grammar with 正
在 — actions in progress
(正 (zhèng)) 在 (zài) + Verb
正好 — just in time, coincidence
Subj. + 正好 (zhènghǎo) + Verb / Adj.
反正 — anyway
反正 (fǎnzhèng) + Fact/Reason, Main Clause
化 — making -ize/-ify verbs
Noun / Adj. + 化 (huà) → Verb (to -ize/-ify)
偏 — contrary to expectations
Subj. + 偏偏 (piānpiān) + Verb (undesirable coincidence)
忽然 — suddenly
Subject + 忽然 (hūrán) + Verb / Adj. + (了 (le)) / 忽然 (hūrán) + Clause