Japanese symbol for “respectable”
真っ当
まっとう
Romaji: mattou
proper; respectable; decent; honest
In Japanese, respectable is 真っ当, read まっとう (mattou).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-na proper; respectable; decent; honest
- adv entirely; completely; wholly; perfectly
Written forms: 真っ当、全う、真当. Readings: まっとう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “respectable”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 堅気 | かたぎ katagi | honest; respectable; decent |
| 一角 | ひとかど hitokado | considerable; decent; respectable |
| 正面 | まとも matomo | honest; upright; decent |
| 卑しからぬ | いやしからぬ iyashikaranu | respectable; decent |
| 人がましい | ひとがましい hitogamashii | respectable; ordinary; normal |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん shashin | photograph; photo; picture |
| 真実 | しんじつ shinjitsu | truth; reality |
| 真ん中 | まんなか mannaka | middle; centre; center |
| 真相 | しんそう shinsou | truth; real situation |
| 真理 | しんり shinri | truth |
| 真剣 | しんけん shinken | serious; earnest |
| 本当 | ほんとう hontou | truth; reality; actuality |
| 当時 | とうじ touji | at that time; in those days |
See also: Chinese symbol for “respectable”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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