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本当 (ほんとう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N5 Freq. Frequency Top 1,000 Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
truth ; fact ; reality
Everyday noun and adjectival-noun use for whether something is true or factual. Common in expressions such as 本当を言うと and 本当かどうか.
話はなし
が
本ほん
当とう
か
どう
か
、
まだ
分わ
から
ない
。
I still don't know whether that story is true.
2
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
proper ; correct ; legitimate
Used mainly before の or as a na-adjective to mean the proper, right, or legitimate version of something; in some contexts this overlaps with 'official' or 'formally correct.'
3
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
genuine ; authentic ; real
Used as 本当の〜 for something genuine, authentic, natural, or truly deserving of the name; often contrasts with fake, artificial, or superficial things.
Written forms 本当 Usage 71% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
ほんとう
Standard, very common spelling and reading; this form is high priority.
ほんと
Common shortened colloquial reading of the same written form, especially in speech and casual contexts.
ほんと Usage 12%
Practical casual kana spelling for the shortened pronunciation; more informal than 本当.
ほんとう Usage 10%
ホント Usage 7%
search-only kana form
Katakana casual/search variant marked search-only; normal dictionary spelling is 本当.
ホントウ Usage <1%
search-only kana form
Katakana search variant; standard writing is 本当.
本ほん 當とう Usage <1%
search-only kanji form
Old/traditional kanji form marked search-only; use 本当 in modern writing.
ホントー Usage <1% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
Similar words 真しん 実じつ More formal or weighty for 'truth'; 本当 is the everyday word used in ordinary conversation.
事じ 実じつ Means an objective fact; 本当 can mean truth/factuality and also works adjectivally as in 本当の話.
本ほん 物もの Refers to a genuine article or real person/thing; 本当の〜 is broader and can describe truth, correctness, authenticity, or genuineness.
正ただ しい Directly means correct or right; 本当の can mean proper/correct, but often carries a nuance of 'true' or 'real' as well.
Etymology Written with 本, associated with what is original or real, and 当, associated with fitting or corresponding. This is a useful spelling-based explanation; the exact historical development is not asserted here.
