正

Composed of 丁 (고무래 정) (phonetic element) and 止 (그칠 지) (semantic element – “foot/stop”).

丁 provided the sound; 止 gave the meaning of “stepping” or “movement.”

Originally meant “to march, to go on an expedition, to attack” (same origin as 征).

Later shifted to the meaning “upright, correct” via semantic extension/grafting.

Seal Script (小篆): simplified 丁’s old shape 囗 into a single horizontal stroke 一, leading to the modern shape.

It also appears in many words, including:

정의 (正義) – justice;

정월 (正月) – the first month of the lunar year;

정식 (正式) – official, formal.

Extended meanings: in mathematics and science, positive (opposite of 負 “negative”); also used for very large number units (10⁴⁰).

定 (정할 정) – with 宀 “roof,” meaning “to decide/fix.”

疋 (짝 필) – visually similar but with ornamental strokes.