正しい
ただしい · tadashii · JLPT N4 · i-adj
correct
✅ 正 = five strokes used for tallying; a count done right is tadashii
正 means right or proper, and Japanese tallies in fives by writing its five strokes. The しい ending marks an adjective. Sound hook: ta-da! she (shii) got the correct answer.
正 — one 一 + stop 止
Originally an ideograph showing a foot (止) advancing toward a target line (一), meaning 'to march straight toward' a city or goal. From this came the senses 'upright,' 'correct,' and 'proper.' The military sense survives in 征 (to campaign), which took over the original 'march' meaning.