How to say "truly" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- adverb, no-adjectiveIts core sense is 'entirely, completely', stressing totality, and it also stands alone as an exclamation of exasperation. When 'truly' means 'genuinely', this is seldom the word you want.
- 誠にまことにadverbCovers 'truly' as deep, felt sincerity, and 'very, extremely'. Typical in earnest apologies and thanks, where it gives the statement weight.
- 実にじつにadverbCovers 'truly' and 'indeed' when you react to how something strikes you, intensifying an evaluative comment — the sense of finding something truly wonderful.
- adverbCovers 'indeed, truly' when conceding or agreeing that something is so, and 'just (like)' for what is typical of its kind. Usually written in kana alone.
- 本当にほんとうにadverbCovers the plain senses 'really' and 'truly': asking 'really?', emphasizing a statement, or expressing genuine feeling. When you simply mean 'really' or 'truly', this is the word to reach for.
Use 「本当に」 for the plain 'really, genuinely'; 「誠に」 for weighty, sincere 'truly'; 「実に」 and 「いかにも」 for 'indeed' in evaluation or concession; 「まったく」 is really 'entirely, completely', seldom 'truly'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- まったくreally
- 誠にまことにreally
- 実にじつにreally
- いかにもindeed
- 本当にほんとうにreally
- まさにexactly
- 宜むべtruly
- ガチでtruly
- 真にしんにtruly
- 本にほんにindeed
- けだしcertainly
- げにindeed
- 実際にじっさいにactually
- さもreally (seem, appear, etc.)
- まったくもってas a matter of fact
- むべなるかなquite right
- まさしくcertainly
- さてもoh my
- 実際じっさいtruly
- 真実しんじつtruly
- とにかくreally
- 心底しんそこfrom the bottom of one's heart
- 誠まことindeed
- まるでreally
- 普通にふつうにby anyone's standards
- ものreally
- まさかindeed
See also
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