真

• Factual/Authentic: Genuine; not counterfeit or fake (opposite of 假). Refers to the authenticity of an object, claim, or document.
• Ontological/Essential: Primordiality and authenticity. In Daoist contexts, it refers to a state stripped of artificial social conditioning to return to one's original essence (e.g., 真人, "True Person" or "Perfected One"). In Buddhist contexts, it is used for Satya (Truth) or the nature of the Dharmakaya, often distinguishing ultimate reality from conventional truth.
• Formal/Standard: The correct, standard, or benchmark form; most evident in calligraphy as 真書 ("regular script").

• Adjective/Predicate: Modifying a noun or serving as a predicate.
• Noun: In philosophical contexts, it may function as a substantive (e.g., "The Truth" or "The Real").

Contrast with 正 (zhèng): While 正 generally implies correctness, morality, alignment, or adherence to a standard, 真 implies essence, innate nature, and authenticity. Use of 真 where 正 might be expected typically emphasizes the internal or innate over the disciplined or corrected.

// Tang-period reading: //jin.

• Variant: U+771E.