How to say "substance" in Japanese

• 内容ないようJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'substance' in the sense of what a speech, letter, or report actually contains — the matter itself as opposed to its style or packaging. It is not a word for physical material.
  仮かりの議事ぎじ内容ないようを送付そうふしました。↗

  Attached is the tentative agenda.
• 本体ほんたいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounHere 'substance' means a thing's true form or real character — what it actually is beneath surface appearances. For ordinary senses such as a physical material, this is seldom the word you want.
  なんであれ物事ものごとの本体ほんたいを捕とらえる事ことが肝心かんじんだ。↗

  No matter what the problem is, it's essential to get at the heart of the matter.
• 実質じっしつJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounSubstance as opposed to form: what something really amounts to in effect, as when a plan's substance differs from its outward appearance. Natural in talk of policies, deals, and reforms.
• 物質ぶっしつJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word for substance as physical matter — a material or stuff, the sense used in science and in everyday talk about chemicals and materials. Choose it whenever 'substance' means something tangible.
  その物質ぶっしつは酸さんで処理しょりしなければならない。↗

  The substance must be treated with acid.
• 本質ほんしつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe essence or true nature of something — 'substance' in the sense of what a question, problem, or issue fundamentally is. Points to the core that remains when surface details are set aside.
  それから、彼かれは、ケンブリッジで研究けんきゅうを始はじめ、宇宙うちゅうの本質ほんしつについて前まえよりいっそう多おおくの考かんがえを発展はってんさせ始はじめた。↗

  Then he began his work at Cambridge, developing many new ideas about the nature of the universe.

Choose 物質 for physical or chemical substance, 内容 for the contents of a speech or document, 実質 for substance as opposed to form, 本質 for the essence of a matter, and 本体 for something's true form or character.

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

• 内容ないようcontents
• 本体ほんたいsubstance
• 実質じっしつsubstance
• 物質ぶっしつmaterial
• 本質ほんしつessence
• 実体じったいsubstance
• ものthing
• 要旨ようし(main) point
• サブスタンスsubstance
• こくrichness
• 剤ざいmedicine
• 実じつcontent
• 中身なかみsubstance
• だいたいoutline
• 体たいsubstance
• マターmatter
• 実みcontent
• 肉にくcontent