真四角・ま四角|ましかくmashikaku[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
真四角真四角（ましかく） is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; it is written entirely in kanji.
ま四角ま四角（ましかく） is a less common written variant, combining kanji and kana; recognize it when encountered, but use 真四角（ましかく） in your own writing.
Definitions
- no-adjective, na-adjectivesquare
Conjugation
| Plain form | 真四角（ましかく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 真四角です（ましかくです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 真四角ではない（ましかくではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 真四角ではありません（ましかくではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 真四角だった（ましかくだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 真四角ではなかった（ましかくではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 真四角で（ましかくで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 真四角に（ましかくに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 真四角なら（ましかくなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymスクエアNeutralA loanword for a square shape, also an open plaza; often seen in design contexts and shop names.
- Synonym四角いしかくいNeutralAn adjective for anything four-cornered, rectangles included, as in 「四角い箱」; the general word for square-ish shapes.
- Synonym四角しかくNeutralA noun for a four-sided figure, rectangles included, so not necessarily a perfect square.
- Synonym正方形せいほうけいNeutralThe mathematical term for a square, formal in register, as in 「正方形の面積」.
- Synonymまっ四角まっしかくNeutralRead 「まっしかく」 and also written 「真っ四角」; the same meaning as the headword but more emphatic.
- Antonym丸いまるいNeutralMeans round, and figuratively a mellow, agreeable character; the opposite of boxy 「真四角」.
- Antonym円形えんけいNeutralA circle or round shape, the opposite of boxy 「真四角」, as in 「円形の広場」.
In everyday speech use 「真四角」 for something perfectly square, as in 「真四角の箱」. For mathematics or formal writing pick 「正方形」; for four-cornered shapes in general, rectangles included, use 「四角い」. 「まっ四角」 is a more emphatic variant.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
