Japanese word

本当に

Pronunciation

Romajihontōni

Meaning

  • adverbreally

Example

私は本当にうれしいです。watashi wa hon tō ni u re shi i de su

I am really happy.

Illustration for 本当に (really)

More examples

その知らせを聞いて、私は本当に安心しました。so no shi ra se o ki i te watashi wa hon tō ni an shin shi ma shi ta

I was really relieved to hear the news.

Core concept

本当に (hontō ni) marks something as genuinely true or adds strong feeling to what is being said.

Common phrases

  • 本当にごめんなさいhon tō ni go me n na sa i

    really sorry

  • 本当にありがとうhon tō ni a ri ga tō

    thank you very much

  • 本当に好きhon tō ni su ki

    really like ___

  • 本当に必要hon tō ni hitsu yō

    really necessary

Similar words

とてもtotemo: Indicates a very high degree of a quality, amount, or feeling.
実にjitsuni: Strongly emphasizes the truth of a statement or the intensity of a quality.

Definition in Japanese

偽りや疑いなく、事実としてそうであるさま。また、気持ちの強さを表すさま。itsuwa ri ya utaga i na ku ji jitsu to shi te sō de a ru sa ma ma ta ki mo chi no tsuyo sa o arawa su sa ma

Word origin

本当に (hontō ni) is the adverbial form of 本当 (hontō, "truth"), a Sino-Japanese compound of 本 (hon, "base or true") and 当 (tō, "right or fitting").

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, 本当に (hontō ni) can stand alone as a short question when a speaker wants confirmation, much like "Really?" in English.

Word lists with this word