Origin

This character combines the idea of "ten" (十) positioned directly above "eye" (目). The vertical alignment suggests something going straight up, perpendicular and undeviating—which is the core visual meaning of straightness. From this primary sense of being straight and direct, the meanings expanded: a straight path leads to honesty and frankness (going directly to the truth without deviation), and to fix or repair something means to straighten it back to its proper form. The eye component may also suggest careful, direct observation or seeing something as it truly is.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).