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On'yomi
セイ
SEI
Kun'yomi
まこと
makoto

sincerity · admonish · warn · prohibit · truth · fidelity

peacefulwisdom

Details

Strokes13
Frequency#1128
Radicalspeech(7)

Description

Sincerity/Truth - honesty, authenticity, truthfulness.

Stroke Order

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Strokes13

Component Breakdown

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Words + become

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of words and become. Truth where words hold true.

Symbolism

Sincerity, true heart, trust. Represents core virtue of bushido.

Spiritual Meaning

Represents truthful heart without falsehood, most valued spiritual quality in both Shinto and bushido.

Anime & Manga

薄桜鬼

はくおうき

Hakuoki(2008)

game/anime

Story under the Shinsengumi's 'Makoto' banner

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るろうに剣心

るろうにけんしん

Rurouni Kenshin(2023)

manga/anime

Shinsengumi and 'sincerity' spirit are key themes

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鬼滅の刃

きめつのやいば

Demon Slayer(2019)

manga/anime

Protagonist Tanjiro's sincere character is appealing

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Games

龍が如く 維新!極

Like a Dragon: Ishin!(2023)

PS5/Xbox/PC

Bakumatsu action depicting Shinsengumi's 'sincerity'

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ペルソナ5

Persona 5(2016)

PS4/PS5/PC

Phantom Thieves question 'true justice'

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

誠心誠意

せいしんせいい

in all sincerity; with one's whole heart; whole-hearted devotion; in all sincerity

Proverbs & Idioms

誠は天の道なり

まことはてんのみちなり

Sincerity is the way of heaven

Truthfulness is in accordance with the natural order

Related Figures

近藤勇

(こんどういさみ)
Kondo Isami1834-1868

Shinsengumi commander who raised the 'Makoto' flag

Bakumatsu samurai. Led Shinsengumi to maintain order in Kyoto