誠
Meanings
1
Refers to objective truth or actual state of affairs. Often used in formal or emphatic contexts.
There was no truth in his words.
Please tell me the truth.
2
sincerity; honesty; faithfulness
Emphasizes inner genuineness, heartfelt honesty, and loyalty. Common in expressions like 誠を尽くす.
He treats people with sincerity.
If you have a sincere heart, it will surely get through.
3
dated term
Dated adverbial use expressing emphasis or affirmation. Now mostly replaced by 本当に or 実に in modern speech, but still seen in formal or literary contexts.
It has indeed been a long time.
Thank you very much indeed.
Usage patterns
- 誠を込めるto put sincerity/heart into something
I wrote the letter with heartfelt sincerity.
- 誠があるto have sincerity; to be genuine
There is genuine sincerity in his words.
- 誠を示すto show/demonstrate sincerity
He showed his sincerity through his actions.