Japanese word

本命

Pronunciation

Romajihonmei

Meaning

  • nounfavorite

Example

この選手が本命です。ko no sen shu ga hon mei de su

This player is the favorite.

Illustration for 本命 (favorite)

More examples

選挙戦の終盤で、彼女が一躍本命に浮上しました。sen kyo sen no shū ban de kano jo ga ichi yaku hon mei ni fu jō shi ma shi ta

Late in the election campaign, she suddenly emerged as the favorite.

Core concept

本命 (honmei) identifies the leading candidate that receives the strongest expectation of success in a contest or selection.

Common phrases

  • 本命に浮上するhon mei ni fu jō su ru

    emerge as the favorite

  • 本命と見るhon mei to mi ru

    consider the favorite

Similar words

大本命daihonmei: A candidate seen as almost certain to be chosen or win.
最有力候補saiyūryokukōho: The candidate judged to have the highest chance of success in a contest or selection.
有力候補yūryokukōho: A candidate considered likely to succeed in a contest or selection.

Definition in Japanese

勝負や選考で、最も有力だと考えられている人や物。shō bu ya sen kō de motto mo yū ryoku da to kanga e ra re te i ru hito ya mono

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 本命 (honmei) combines 本 (hon, "main") with 命 (mei, "fate"), giving the sense of a central or foremost choice.

Usage tips

  • In English, favorite has both a personal-preference sense and an expected-winner sense, and 本命 (honmei) corresponds to the latter when discussing a contest.

Opposites

Related words

  • 本命視するhonmeishisururegard as the favoriteverb

Word lists with this word