本ほん質しつ的てき

ほ

ん

し

つ

て

き

Common word

Meanings

na-adjective

essential; fundamental; intrinsic

Describes the core, inherent nature of something, often used in formal or analytical contexts. 本質的な問題 (essential problem), 本質的に異なる (fundamentally different).

この問もん題だいの本ほん質しつ的てきな原げん因いんを探さぐる必ひつ要ようがある。
We need to investigate the essential cause of this problem.
両りょう者しゃの意い見けんは本ほん質しつ的てきに異ことなっている。
The two opinions are fundamentally different.

See all 25 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉は本ほん質しつ的てきに〈形けい容よう詞し〉X is fundamentally/essentially Y
この二ふたつの問もん題だいは本ほん質しつ的てきに異ことなる。
These two problems are fundamentally different.
〈事こと〉の本ほん質しつ的てきな原げん因いんthe underlying/essential cause of X
事じ故この本ほん質しつ的てきな原げん因いんを調しらべる。
They investigated the underlying cause of the accident.
〈物もの・事こと〉に本ほん質しつ的てきな問もん題だいがあるthere is a fundamental problem with X
このシステムには本ほん質しつ的てきな問もん題だいがある。
There is a fundamental problem with this system.

Kanji

本book, present, main
質substance, quality, matter
的bull's eye, mark, target

Related words

基き本ほん的てき
基本的 means 'basic/fundamental' in a general, foundational sense, while 本質的 stresses the inherent, core nature of something.
根こん本ぽん的てきN1
根本的 focuses on the root cause or basis of a problem (根本的な解決), while 本質的 focuses on the intrinsic nature of a thing itself.
本ほん来らいN2
本質的 emphasizes the essential/core nature of something in a more analytical or philosophical way, while 本来 focuses on what is inherent or intended.

Opposites

表ひょう面めん的てき
表面的 describes something superficial or on the surface, the opposite of 本質的, which describes something at the core or essence.

Don't confuse with

実じっ質しつ的てき
実質的 means 'substantive/in practice' (focusing on actual effect or content), while 本質的 means 'essential/intrinsic' (focusing on core nature), and learners often blur the two.

Built from

本ほん質しつ+的てき

Etymology

Derived from 本質 (essence) + the adjectival suffix 的 (-like, -ical). The suffix 的 is of Chinese origin and attaches to nouns to form adjectival nouns.