adjective
exactly, precise
A2
Genau means 'exactly' or 'precise'. Used both as adjective and adverb. It is gradable: comparative 'genauer', superlative 'am genauesten'. Common antonyms: 'ungenau', 'ungefähr'. Not a participle. No special preposition or auxiliary; frequently used in confirmations ('Genau!') or to specify precision and in informal spoken German.
Examples
Die Instruktionen waren genau, damit die Arbeiter die Maschine richtig bedienen konnten.
The instructions were precise so that the workers could operate the machine correctly.
Seine Messungen sind sehr genau.
His measurements are very precise.
Das ist genau das, was ich gesucht habe.
That's exactly what I was looking for.
Details
Mnemonics
visualize a bullseye target hit dead center to recall 'genau'
sounds like 'get now' — imagine telling someone 'exactly, get it now'
Notes
Can be used as adverb ('Genau!') and adjective ('genaue Messung').