The Meaning of seijitsu [誠実] In Japanese

誠実
せいじつ
Romaji: seijitsu N3

What does 誠実 mean?

Translation and Meaning

sincerity, honesty, integrity

Definition

誠実 means the quality of being honest and trustworthy, guiding both thoughts and actions with genuine integrity. In everyday use it describes a person who acts in good faith, keeps promises, and remains reliable across situations.

Type

adjective (na-adjective) 形容動詞

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • core sense centers on inner truthfulness expressed through consistent, trustworthy behavior
  • reliability: someone who can be counted on to act with honesty over time
  • moral integrity: a valued trait in relationships, work, and leadership

Composition

  • 誠: sincerity, truthfulness in spoken or communicated intent
  • 実: truth, reality, or actualness; acts as the evidence of that truth
  • Together they express integrity, meaning honesty in both words and deeds

Usage

Used to describe character in personal, professional, and academic contexts. In formal writing it often appears in evaluations of integrity or character; in conversation it qualifies sincerity and trustworthiness, frequently with accompanying adverbs like 誠実に or 誠実さ to modify actions or traits.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of 誠 as say true; 言 on the left, 成 on the right, forming 誠. A quick cue: say true and make it real by acting in a way that matches your words.

Variations

  • 真摯 (shinshi) — earnest, sincere
  • 正直 (shōjiki) — honest, straightforward
  • 誠実さ (seijitsusa) — sincerity
  • 不誠実 (fuseijitsu) — insincerity

Example Phrases

  • 彼は誠実で、約束をきちんと守る人だ。
    Kare wa seijitsu de, yakusoku o kichinto mamoru hito da.
    He is a sincere person who keeps his promises properly.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 誠実で (seijitsu de) – sincere
    • 約束を (yakusoku o) – promises
    • きちんと (kichinto) – properly
    • 守る (mamoru) – keep
    • 人だ (hito da) – is a person
    In this sentence, 「誠実」 functions as a na-adjective meaning ‘sincere’; using 「誠実で」 links to the predicate, describing the subject as ‘being sincere’.
誠実