Word
本当
Meaning in Englishtruth, real, true
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
N3
彼の努力には本当に感心するものがある
Kare no doryoku ni wa hontou ni kanshin suru mono ga aru
His effort is truly impressive
N1
努力してこそ本当の成果が得られる
Doryoku shite koso hontou no seika ga erareru
Only effort brings real results
N3
その話は本当らしいけどまだ確認していない
Sono hanashi wa hontou rashii kedo mada kakunin shite inai
That story seems true but I have not confirmed yet
Word context
What it means
What does 本当 (hontou) mean? It means "truth" or "real": the state or quality of being factual or genuine rather than false or pretend, used to assert that something corresponds to reality.
Main meanings
- As an adverbial nuance often realized as hontō ni, used to intensify verbs and adjectives — equivalent to "really/truly" in English.
- As an attributive qualifier commonly heard as hontō no before nouns to mark authenticity or genuineness.
- As a short spoken interjection (hontō?) expressing surprise, disbelief, or asking for confirmation.
- Used for emotional emphasis in informal speech (shock, sympathy, frustration) without carrying technical or legal weight.
How to use it
Widespread across spoken and written Japanese, appearing in casual conversation, media, and formal statements; speakers use it to check facts, emphasize sincerity, or stress intensity, and it commonly appears in everyday questions, supportive comments, emphatic replies, and in written claims or reports to assert that a claim corresponds to reality.
Variants and close terms
- 真実 (shinjitsu) — "truth" (formal, often used in legal/academic contexts)
- 本物 (honmono) — "genuine, authentic" (focus on authenticity of objects or people)
- 実際 (jissai) — "actually, in reality" (used to contrast expectation vs fact)
- 嘘 (uso) — "lie, falsehood" (antonym)
Composition
- 本 (hon): root, origin, book; conveys the idea of "base" or "true source".
- 当 (tō or ataru): to hit, appropriate, applicable; conveys correctness or being fitting.
Word class
noun, na-adjective (名詞、形容動詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
根本
kompon
foundation, root, base
N1
当人
tounin
the one concerned, the said person
N1
該当
gaitou
corresponding, answering to, coming under
N1
脚本
kyakuhon
scenario
N1
当～
tou～
Our ~ (e.g., Hotel, plane, etc.)
N1
当選
tousen
being elected, winning the prize
N1
当て
ate
expectations; depend
N1
当て字
ateji
phonetic-equivalent character, substitute character
N1
正当
seitou
just, due, proper
Kanji