Tadashii is the Japanese word for ‘correct’, explained

What does “tadashii” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tadashii” to mean ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “tadashii” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “tadashii”
  • Example #1: how to say “correct” in Japanese
• Tadashikunai: the nai form of “tadashii”
  • Example #2: how to say “not correct” in Japanese
• Tadashikatta: the ta form of “tadashii”
  • Example #3: how to say “was correct” in Japanese
• Tadashikute: the te form of “tadashii”
  • Example #4: how to say “correct and” in Japanese
• Tadashikereba: the ba form of “tadashii”
  • Example #5: how to say “if correct” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “tadashii”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “tadashii”.

• tadashii – 正しい (ただしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “correct” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its possessive case, “kanojo no”, which means ‘her’ in Japanese.
• kotae – 答え (こたえ) : a noun meaning ‘answer’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo no kotae” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “tadashii”. In this example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “kanojo no tadashii kotae” to mean ‘her correct answer’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tadashii” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “tadashikunai”.

Tadashikunai: the nai form of “tadashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tadashikunai”.

• tadashikunai – 正しくない (ただしくない) : the nai form of “tadashii”, which means ‘not correct’ or ‘not right’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tadashikunai” consists of the following two parts:

• tadashiku – 正しく (ただしく) : one conjugation of “tadashii”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tadashikunai” is literally the nai form of “tadashii” and means ‘not correct’ or ‘not right’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not correct” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” to say “his” in Japanese.
• iken – 意見 (いけん) : a noun meaning ‘opinion’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “tadashikunai”. When we want to mean ‘not correct’ or ‘not right’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Tadashikatta: the ta form of “tadashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tadashikatta”.

• tadashikatta – 正しかった (ただしかった) : the ta form of “tadashii”, which means ‘was correct’, ‘was right’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tadashikatta” consists of the following two parts:

• tadashikat – 正しかっ (ただしかっ) : one conjugation of “tadashii”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tadashikatta” is literally the ta form of “tadashii” and means ‘was correct’, ‘was right’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was correct” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males. In the example, this works together with “no” to say “my” in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “boku no kotae” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “tadashikatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “tadashii”, this ta form is the best option.

Tadashikute: the te form of “tadashii”

Below are the definition and meanings of “tadashikute”.

• tadashikute – 正しくて (ただしくて) : the te form of “tadashii”, which means ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tadashikute” consists of the following two parts:

• tadashiku – 正しく (ただしく) : one conjugation of “tadashii”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tadashikute” is literally the te form of “tadashii”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tadashikute” is very useful when we want to use “tadashii” in front of another adjective or a verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “correct and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• bunshou – 文章 (ぶんしょう) : a noun meaning ‘sentence’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• utsukushii – 美しい (うつくしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘beautiful’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “tadashikute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “utsukushii”. When we want to use “tadashii” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Tadashikereba: the ba form of “tadashii”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “tadashikereba”.

• tadashikereba – 正しければ (ただしければ) : the ba form of “tadashii”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “tadashikereba” consists of the following two parts:

• tadashikere – 正しけれ (ただしけれ) : one conjugation of “tadashii”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “tadashikereba” is literally the ba form of “tadashii”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tadashikereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘correct’ or ‘right’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if correct” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kioku – 記憶 (きおく) : a noun meaning ‘memory’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “boku no kioku” to make the subject in the clause.
• dokushin – 独身 (どくしん) : a noun, but often used like an adjective to mean ‘single’ in Japanese.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “dokushin” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “tadashikereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “boku no kioku ga tadashikereba”, which literally means ‘if my memory is correct’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘correct’ or ‘right’, this ba forms is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tadashii” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• tadashii – 正しい (ただしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• tadashikunai – 正しくない (ただしくない) : the nai form of “tadashii”, which means ‘not correct’ or ‘not right’ in Japanese.
• tadashikatta – 正しかった (ただしかった) : the ta form of “tadashii”, which means ‘was correct’, ‘was right’, or such in Japanese.
• tadashikute – 正しくて (ただしくて) : the te form of “tadashii”, which means ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese. When we want to use “tadashii” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• tadashikereba – 正しければ (ただしければ) : the ba form of “tadashii”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘correct’ or ‘right’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.