本真

Chinese
 
roots or stems of plants; origin; source; this; the current; root; foundation; basis; (a measure word)
 real; true; genuine
simp. and trad.
(本真)		 本 真

Pronunciation

Noun

本真

  1. inherent qualities; true nature

Adjective

本真

  1. inherent; intrinsic; natural

Synonyms
  • 本來面目／本来面目 (běnlái miànmù)
  • 本性 (běnxìng)

Japanese
Kanji in this term
本 真
ほん
Grade: 1		 ま
Grade: 3
jūbakoyomi

Etymology

Probably coined in Japan, as a compound of 本 (hon, “main, this, the current; real”) +‎ 真 (ma, “real, true, genuine”).[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

本真 (hiragana ほんま, katakana ホンマ, rōmaji honma)

  1. truth, reality

Usage notes

Used attributively as a noun, taking the possessive particle の (no).

本 (ほん)真 (ま)の話 (はなし)やで。
Honma no hanashi ya de.
It's a true story, I tell you!

Also used adverbially, taking the particle に (ni).

本 (ほん)真 (ま)に驚 (おどろ)いたわ。
Honma ni odoroita wa.
I was really surprised.

May be more common in Kansai and other areas in the west of Japan.

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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