直す

• Reading: なおす
• Romaji: naosu
• Kanji breakdown: 直 (choku/nao) — straight, fix, direct; eye (目) + vertical line
• Pronunciation: /na.o.sɯ/

Meaning

To repair; to fix; to mend; to correct a mistake or restore something to its proper state.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with two main senses: (1) to repair/fix a broken object (時計を直す), and (2) to correct a mistake (間違いを直す). Also used as a verb suffix meaning 'to redo': 書き直す (to rewrite), やり直す (to redo). The intransitive pair is 直る (naoru, to be fixed).

Examples

1. 自転車のタイヤを直しました。 I fixed the bicycle tire.
2. この間違いを直してください。 Please correct this mistake.
3. 父は何でも自分で直します。 My father fixes everything by himself.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, repair, writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 直 depicts an eye (目) looking straight ahead with a vertical line (|), representing directness and straightness — the idea of making something right again.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal