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本命 (ほんめい, honmei) Japanese meaning: favorite | Kotomora

本ほん命めい

ほ

ん

め

い

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

favorite; likely winner

Used in competitions, elections, or predictions to refer to the most probable winner or top candidate.

今年ことしの優ゆう勝しょう候こう補ほの本ほん命めいはあのチームだ。

That team is the favorite to win this year's championship.

選せん挙きょでは彼かれが本ほん命めいと見みられている。

He is seen as the likely winner in the election.

2

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

first choice; one's heart's desire

Colloquial use for a person or thing one desires most, such as a romantic interest or preferred option.

彼かの女じょが俺おれの本ほん命めいだ。
She's the one I really want.
本ほん命めいの大だい学がくに合ごう格かくした。
I got into my first-choice university.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと・物もの〉が本ほん命めいに挙あげられるfor X to be named as the favorite
彼かれが優ゆう勝しょうの本ほん命めいに挙あげられている。
He is being named as the favorite to win the championship.
〈人ひと〉の本ほん命めいは〈人ひと〉だX's heart's desire is Y (person)
彼かの女じょの本ほん命めいは同どう僚りょうの佐さ藤とうさんだ。
Her heart's desire is her colleague, Sato.
〈人ひと・物もの〉が本ほん命めい視しされるfor X to be regarded as the favorite
田た中なか選せん手しゅが優ゆう勝しょうの本ほん命めい視しされている。
Tanaka is regarded as the favorite to win the title.
本ほん命めいに浮ふ上じょうするto emerge as the front-runner
新しん人じん候こう補ほが本ほん命めいに浮ふ上じょうした。
The newcomer candidate emerged as the front-runner.

Kanji

本book, present, main
命fate, command, decree

Related words

有ゆう力りょく候こう補ほ sense 1
有力候補 refers to a strong contender who might win, while 本命 specifically means the top favorite most likely to win.
第だい一いち希き望ぼう sense 2
第一希望 is a formal term for one's first preference, such as in job or school applications, while 本命 is used more casually for the person or option one truly wants.
最さい有ゆう力りょくN2
本命 is a casual, everyday word for 'the favorite' (often used for betting or predictions), while 最有力 is a more formal, analytical term used in news reports about candidates or suspects.

Opposites

大おお穴あな sense 1
本命 is the predicted top favorite, while 大穴 is a long-shot bet or outsider that would pay off big if it won.
滑すべり止どめ sense 2
本命 is one's first, most desired choice, whereas 滑り止め is a backup option chosen as a safety net.
穴あなN3
本命 is the favorite expected to win, the opposite of 穴, the unlikely long-shot winner in betting or competition.

Word family

本ほん命めいチョコ
true feelings chocolate; Valentine's chocolate for a romantic interest

Etymology

From 本 (ほん, 'main' or 'true') and 命 (めい, 'life' or 'fate'), originally referring to one's destined or true fate. The modern sense of 'favorite' developed from the idea of a predetermined or most likely outcome.