本当|ほんとうhontou[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjective, na-adjectivetruth; reality; actuality; fact
   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.
2. no-adjective, na-adjectiveproper; right; correct; official
3. no-adjective, na-adjectivegenuine; authentic; real; natural; veritable

• Synonym真実しんじつWrittenRefers to the truth or absolute truth, as in 「真実を語る」; more solemn and written in tone than 「本当」.
• Synonym事実じじつNeutralAn objective fact, something that actually happened, as in 「事実に基づく」; unlike 「本当」, it does not cover the sense of genuine or the real thing.
• Synonym実にじつにWrittenAdverb meaning truly or very, as in 「実に美しい」; carries a written, exclamatory tone and cannot serve as a noun.
• Synonym真のしんのWrittenPrenominal modifier meaning true or genuine, as in 「真の友」; it can only modify nouns and is written in register.
• Synonym真しんWrittenMeans truth or seriousness, seen in set phrases like 「真に迫る」; in logic it refers to truth value, and it is not used alone as a noun in daily speech.
• Synonym現にげんにWrittenPoints to a fact right before your eyes, as in 「現に被害が出ている」; often used to cite evidence.
• Synonym本当にほんとうにNeutralThe adverbial form of 「本当」, meaning really or truly, as in 「本当にありがとう」.
• SynonymリアルCasualLoanword for lifelike or realistic, as in 「リアルな描写」; in casual speech it can also mean real or genuine, close to 「本当」.
• Synonym現実げんじつNeutralThe reality before you, opposed to ideals, as in 「現実は厳しい」; 「本当」 is instead opposed to falsehood.
• Synonym実際じっさいNeutralThe actual situation, opposed to theory; also works as an adverb meaning indeed, as in 「実際、困っている」.
• Synonym実はじつはNeutralIntroduces a confession or the honest truth, as in 「実は…」 to open a topic; 「本当は」 stresses a contrast with appearances.
• Synonym真相しんそうNeutralThe true state of an event, as in 「事件の真相」; used for facts that are not widely known.
• SynonymいかにもNeutralMeans indeed or just like, as in 「いかにも彼らしい」; stresses matching an impression.
• Synonym真正しんせいWrittenWritten word for genuine or authentic, as in 「真正な文書」; used in formal or academic contexts.
• Synonym誠まことWrittenTruth or sincerity, as in 「誠を尽くす」; as the adverb 「誠に」 it means truly, in a solemn register.
• Synonym本にほんにCasualDialectal or old-fashioned colloquial equivalent of 「本当に」, meaning truly or really.
• Synonymその実そのじつWrittenWritten expression meaning in fact or actually, contrary to appearances, as in 「笑っているが、その実怒っている」.
• Synonym実際にじっさいにNeutralMeans in practice or actually, as in 「実際に見た」; stresses firsthand experience or what really happened.
• Synonym真にしんにWrittenWritten word for truly or genuinely, as in 「真に必要なもの」; more solemn than 「本当に」.
• SynonymファクトNeutralLoanword for a verifiable fact, as in 「ファクトチェック」; common in business and media contexts.
• Related正しいただしいNeutralMeans correct or right, as in 「正しい答え」; it is about right and wrong rather than true versus false.
• Antonym嘘うそNeutralThe direct opposite of 「本当」: a lie or falsehood.
• Antonym偽にせNeutralOpposes the genuine-article sense of 「本当」: a fake or counterfeit, as in 「偽札」.
• Antonym虚偽きょぎWrittenOpposite of 「本当」: falsehood or untruth, used in legal and formal documents, as in 「虚偽の申告」.

Default to 「本当」 for true or real. Use 「事実」 for objective facts, 「真実」 for the truth in a solemn, written tone, 「現実」 for reality as opposed to ideals, and 「実は」 when confessing or revealing something.

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

1. 間違まちがいや偽いつわりではないこと。正確せいかくなこと。事実じじつ。
2. まぎれもないようす。言葉ことばどおりのさま。
3. 本来ほんらいあるべきようす。
4. （「これが本当ほんとうの」などの形かたちで）ある言葉ことばに偶然ぐうぜん合致がっちする事象じしょうを指さして、冗談じょうだんや洒落しゃれを言いうときの表現ひょうげん。
5. （多おおく「本当ほんとうに」の形かたちで副詞ふくし的てきに）言葉ことばや態度たいどだけのことでなく実際じっさいに行おこなうようす。現実げんじつに存在そんざいする様子ようす。
6. （多おおく「本当ほんとうに」の形かたちで副詞ふくし的てきに）はなはだしいようす。とても。
7. （多おおく「本当ほんとうに」の形かたちで副詞ふくし的てきに）はっきりとそう考かんがえている様子ようす。心こころから。強つよく。
8. はなはだしいようす。とても。
9. はっきりとそう考かんがえている様子ようす。心こころから。強つよく。
10. 事実じじつであることを強調きょうちょうする。
11. あいづちを打うつ。
12. （疑問ぎもんや反語はんごの形かたちで）疑念ぎねんや驚おどろきなどを表あらわす
13. 同意どういや同調どうちょうを表あらわす。
14. 他者たしゃの主張しゅちょう内容ないようを確認かくにんしたことを表あらわす。