Japanese word

ほんの

Pronunciation

Romajihonno

Meaning

  • pre-noun adjectivaljust

Example

ほんの少し待ちます。ho n no suko shi ma chi ma su

I will wait just a little.

Illustration for ほんの (just)

More examples

ほんの気持ちですが、受け取ってください。ho n no ki mo chi de su ga u ke to tte ku da sa i

It is just a small token, but please accept it.

Core concept

Places emphasis on the fact that something is merely one small or limited thing and nothing more.

Common phrases

  • ほんの少しho n no suko shi

    just a little

  • ほんの気持ちho n no ki mo chi

    a small token

  • ほんの冗談ho n no jō dan

    just a joke

Similar words

単なるtannaru: States that something is merely the named thing and nothing more.

Definition in Japanese

数量や程度がごく少ないことを表す語。sū ryō ya tei do ga go ku suku na i ko to o arawa su go

Word origin

The form ほんの (honno) is commonly analyzed as 本 (hon, "main" or "real") followed by の (no, an attributive particle), a combination that came to mean "mere" or "only".

Usage tips

  • ほんの (honno) commonly appears before words for amounts, parts, or moments, showing that something is limited but still present.

Other meanings

  • merepre-noun adjectival
  • onlypre-noun adjectival

Word lists with this word