adverbial N4 common casualpolitewritten

本当に — really / truly

本当に・ほんとうに

Meaning

really / truly — genuine emphasis, adding sincerity rather than just degree

本当に carries the speaker's sincerity — it says the feeling or fact is genuine, not merely strong. That is why it fits heartfelt thanks, apologies, and surprise where a bare degree word would feel flat.

Key sentence

本当ほんとうにありがとう。

Thank you so much (I really mean it).

Examples

この映画えいがは本当ほんとうに面白おもしろかった。

This movie was really interesting.

彼かれが本当ほんとうに来くるとは思おもわなかった。

I never thought he would actually come.

本当ほんとうにごめんなさい。

I'm truly sorry.

Easily confused with

とてもとても rates degree ('very'); 本当に adds genuineness ('really, truly'). 本当に嬉しい stresses that the joy is heartfelt, not just large. 非常に非常に is a formal degree word; 本当に is emotional and conversational, vouching for sincerity.

Notes

On its own, 本当ほんとうに？ means 'Really?' as a reaction; the casual contraction is ほんとに.

See 本当に in real sentences

Jengo shows 本当に the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.

Study it in Jengo

Sources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar. Editorial confidence: medium.

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