ほんの

ほ

ん

の

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

pre-noun adjectival

usually written using kana alone

Pre-noun adjectival (rentaishi) that emphasizes a small amount, degree, or insignificance. Often translates as 'a mere', 'just a', or 'a little'.

ほんの少すこしだけください。
Just a little bit, please.
それはほんの冗じょう談だんです。
That's just a joke.
駅えきまでほんの数すう分ふんです。
It's only a few minutes to the station.

See all 532 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

本ほんの少すこしjust a little (amount)
本ほんの少すこしだけ砂さ糖とうを入いれてください。
Please add just a little sugar.
本ほんの気き持もちa token gift; a small sign of appreciation
これは本ほんの気き持もちですが、どうぞ受うけ取とってください。
It's just a small token, but please accept it.
本ほんの一いち部ぶjust a small part (of something)
これは計けい画かくの本ほんの一いち部ぶにすぎません。
This is only a small part of the plan.
本ほんの数すう分ふんjust a few minutes
会かい議ぎは本ほんの数すう分ふんで終おわった。
The meeting ended in just a few minutes.
本ほんの冗じょう談だんjust a joke; nothing serious
本ほんの冗じょう談だんだから、気きにしないでください。
It was just a joke, so don't worry about it.

Expressions

本ほんの虫むしbookworm; bibliophile
本ほんの間あいだbetween the pages of a book · between two books
基き本ほんのきthe absolute basics; the most fundamental thing
ほんのちょっとjust a little; a tiny bit

Kanji

本book, present, main

Related words

たったN3
たった is an adverb that modifies quantities or verbs (たった一つ, たった今), while 本の is a pre-noun adjectival that must directly precede a noun (本の一部).
わずかN3
わずか can stand alone as a noun or na-adjective and sounds more formal, while 本の always attaches directly in front of a noun in everyday speech.
僅きん々きんN1
ほんの is a pre-noun modifier meaning 'a mere' used before nouns, whereas 僅々 is an adverb/taru-adjective used mainly in formal or written contexts to mean 'no more than'.

Written forms

ほんのUsage100%
Almost always written in kana; the kanji form 本の is rarely used.
本ほんのUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 本 (ほん, 'origin') with the possessive particle の, originally meaning 'the real' or 'the true', but shifted to mean 'mere' or 'just' through semantic weakening. The exact historical development is uncertain.