How to Write 正 (zhēng/zhèng) — Meaning “Correct / Upright”

Imagine a straight arrow (the top horizontal line) pointing down to a 'stop' sign (止) because to be correct you must stop at the right place. The five strokes also look like a simple house with a flat roof – a 'correct' house is balanced and upright.

Write the top horizontal line first, then the left vertical, middle horizontal, right vertical, and finally the bottom horizontal – 5 strokes total. A common mistake is making the middle horizontal too long; it should be shorter than the top and bottom lines, and the two verticals should be parallel and straight.

止 has only 4 strokes and lacks the top horizontal line – it looks like the lower part of 正 without the 'roof'. 此 has 止 on the left and a different right component (匕), meaning 'this', while 正 stands alone with a clear top line and means 'correct'.

正 (zhèng) appears in everyday words like 正确 (correct) and 正在 (in the process of) to show ongoing actions. It also has a special pronunciation zhēng in 正月 (the first lunar month), which is important for traditional festivals like Chinese New Year.

Common words containing 正 include: 正确 (zhèng què) — Correct; 正在 (zhèng zài) — In the process of / Currently; 正月 (zhēng yuè) — first lunar month.