noun
one's real intention; true heart
Refers to a person's sincere, unfeigned inner thoughts or motives, often contrasted with outward words or appearances.
彼の言葉よりも、実の心を見抜くことが大切だ。
It's more important to see through to his real intention than to take his words at face value.
彼女は笑顔の裏に、実の心を隠しているように見えた。
Behind her smile, she seemed to be hiding her true feelings.
Standard kanji spelling for this compound.
Kana spelling used for clarity or emphasis.
Compound of 実 (まこと, 'truth, sincerity') + の (possessive particle) + 心 (こころ, 'heart, mind'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is used to express one's genuine inner thoughts.