The prefix 真 (まっ／まん／ま) attaches to the beginning of certain words to add the meaning of "completely," "totally," "exactly," or "right (in the middle/center)." It intensifies or emphasizes the word that follows.
The reading of 真 changes depending on the word it attaches to:
- まっ – before words starting with certain consonants, causing gemination (double consonant): （まっか）, （まっしろ）, （まっくろ）, （まっくら）, （まっすぐ）, （まっさき）, （まっぷたつ）
- まん – in （まんなか）"right in the middle"
- ま – in words like （まよなか）"dead of night," （まひる）"high noon," （まあたらしい）"brand new"
Intensifying colors and states
One of the most common uses is with colors and descriptive words to mean "completely" or "totally":
。
My face turned bright red.
。
It's pitch dark and I can't see anything.
Indicating "exactly" or "right"
真 can also emphasize precision in location or timing:
。
I sat right in the middle of the room.
。
Please go straight ahead.
Common compounds to remember
Here are some of the most common 真～ words:
- – bright/deep red; also used figuratively for "a total lie" (真っ赤な嘘)
- – pure white; also "blank" (as in one's mind going blank)
- – pitch black
- – deep blue; also "pale" (face turning pale)
- – pitch dark
- – straight; directly; honestly
- – right in the middle/center
- – right in the middle of (doing something)
- – first of all; before anything else
Lingaku