まっとう・真っ当・全うmattou[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. na-adjectiveproper; respectable; decent; honest
  2. adverbentirely; completely; wholly; perfectly
Conjugation
Plain formまっとう
Polite (desu)まっとうです
Negative (dewa nai)まっとうではない
polite (dewa arimasen)まっとうではありません
Past (datta)まっとうだった
Past negative (dewa nakatta)まっとうではなかった
Te form (de)まっとうで
Adverbial (ni)まっとうに
Conditional (nara)まっとうなら

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related全うするまっとうするNeutralA verb for carrying something through to the end or fulfilling a duty, as in 「天寿を全うする」; 「真っ当」 works mainly as a na-adjective describing something proper and decent.
  • Antonym不当ふとうNeutralMeans unfair, unjust or unreasonable — the opposite of the decency and reasonableness of 「真っ当」.

For something proper and decent, use 「真っ当」 (or 「まとも」), as in 「真っ当な仕事」; use 「全うする」 for seeing a duty through, and 「不当」 for what is unfair or improper.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. まとも。まじめ。きちんとしたさま。
  2. 完全かんぜんに成し遂なしとげる。完全かんぜんに果はたす。
English equivalents
See also

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