straight · fix

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 直 has 8 strokes and concerns straightness and correcting errors or fixing broken things.
• Basic usage: 直す is read なおす, and 直る is read なおる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Repairing something and being repaired
  • 椅子を直しました means repaired the chair. With 直す, を marks what is repaired.
  • 作文の間違いを直した means corrected the errors in a composition.
  • 時計が、ようやく直った means the watch was finally fixed. With 直る, the repaired object is the subject.