How to say "reality" in Japanese

• 実際じっさいJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectivePoints to actuality — what really happens or is really the case, often against plans, expectations, or appearances. Very often it simply means 'actually, in fact' rather than naming reality itself.
  この物語ものがたりは実際じっさいの出来事できごとに基もとづいている。↗

  This story is based on actual events.
• 本当ほんとうJLPT N5approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveThe everyday word for truth: what is really the case, as opposed to what is false. For 'reality' it fits statements about what is true or actual, not reality as a world or condition.
  その悪わるい知しらせは残念ざんねんながら本当ほんとうだ。↗

  The bad news is unfortunately true.
• 実じつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveMostly confined to set expressions, this noun is seldom the word you want for 'reality' on its own; for the ordinary senses, 本当 or 現実 is the natural choice.
  生物せいぶつは、実じつがついにそのうちの１つにわかり始はじめるまで、３０億さんれいおく年ねん以上いじょうの間あいだ、全まったくその理由りゆうを知しらずに地球ちきゅう上じょうに存在そんざいしていた。↗

  Living organisms had existed on earth, without ever knowing why, for over three thousand million years before the truth finally dawned on one of them.
• 誠まことJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounIts heart is truth as sincerity and genuineness — being true and honest — so for 'reality' meaning the actual state of things it is seldom the word you want.
  嘘うそから出でた誠まこと。↗

  Many a true word is spoken in jest.
• 現実げんじつJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe default word for reality: the world as it actually is, as opposed to ideals, dreams, or fiction. It often carries the hard edge of 'hard fact,' as in facing reality.
  いい加減かげんに現実げんじつをみつめろ。↗

  Open your eyes to reality.

For reality as the actual state of the world, especially as opposed to ideals or dreams, use 現実; 実際 and 本当 cover the 'actually, in fact' side; 実 and 誠 are marginal on their own.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 実際じっさいreality
• 本当ほんとうtruth
• 実じつtruth
• 誠まことtruth
• 現実げんじつreality
• 真しんtruth
• 事実じじつfact
• ほんまtruth
• 真実しんじつtruth
• リアリティreality
• 実態じったいtrue state
• 如実にょじつreality
• 実相じっそうreality
• 本質ほんしつessence
• 実体じったいsubstance
• 定じょうcertainty
• 現つうつつreality
• 現実界げんじつかいthe real world
• 写実性しゃじつせいrealism
• 現実味げんじつみ(sense of) reality
• 体たいsubstance
• 本統ほんとうtruth