誠・真・実|まことmakoto[0]heiban (flat)

1. nountruth; reality; fact
   嘘うそから出でた誠まこと。↗

   Many a true word is spoken in jest.
2. nounsincerity; honesty; faithfulness; good faith
   手て八丁はっちょう口八丁くちはっちょうの彼かれだけど、誠まことがないのが玉たまに瑕きずだね。↗

   He works fast and is very articulate but his insincerity is his biggest defect.
3. adverbindeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very; quite

• Related誠意せいいNeutralThe everyday word for sincerity or good faith, focusing on the attitude one shows. 「誠」 is more literary and carries a nuance of keeping faith and loyalty.
• Related正直しょうじきNeutralHonesty in the sense of not lying, a matter of character. 「誠」 centers on loyalty and a true heart rather than truthfulness as a personal trait.
• Related誠実せいじつNeutralHonest, trustworthy and responsible. 「誠」 is the more written, archaic choice.
• Related誠心せいしんWrittenWritten word for a sincere heart; rare in practice — say 「真心」 instead.
• Related実直じっちょくWrittenHonest, upright and dutiful, as in 「実直な人柄」. 「誠」 stresses a true heart and good faith.
• Related真心まごころNeutralA true, unadorned heart, as in 「真心を込める」. 「誠」 is more archaic and carries a nuance of fidelity.
• Related至誠しせいWrittenWritten word for utter sincerity with a solemn ring, as in 「至誠天に通ず」.
• Related実意じついWrittenWritten word for true intentions and sincerity; rare — say 「誠意」 or 「真心」 instead.
• Related信実しんじつWrittenWritten word for honesty and truthfulness; rare — say 「誠実」 instead.
• Related真情しんじょうWrittenGenuine feeling, stressing heartfelt emotion. 「誠」 centers on loyalty and good faith.
• Related真率しんそつWrittenWritten word for frankness and candor; rare — say 「率直」 instead.
• Antonym虚偽きょぎWrittenFalsehood and lies; the direct opposite of the sincere, truthful 「誠」.
• Antonym偽ぎWrittenRead 「ぎ」; a logic term for a proposition being untrue. Opposite of 「誠」 in the truth sense, but does not imply a dishonest character.

Use 「誠」 for truth and sincerity in a literary, old-fashioned tone — the Shinsengumi banner read 「誠」. In everyday speech, say 「誠意」 for good faith, 「真心」 for a true heart, and 「正直」 or 「誠実」 for honesty. For falsehood, use 「虚偽」. The rarer written terms above can normally be replaced by these.

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

1. 実際じっさいに存在そんざいすること。ほんとうのこと。
2. 心こころが正直しょうじきで、うそやごまかしがないこと。
3. 本当ほんとうに。確たしかに。疑うたがいなく。