1.
substance, essence, real content
The true content or nature of something as opposed to its outward appearance or nominal value.
実質的な価値は低い。
The actual value is low.
名目と実質は違う。
The nominal and the actual are different.
実質賃金は物価上昇に追いつかず、生活は苦しくなっている。
Real wages have not kept up with price increases, making life harder.
2.
practically, effectively, in effect, virtually
Used adverbially to indicate that something is true in practice even if not officially or nominally so.
彼が実質リーダーだ。
He is effectively the leader.
この提案は実質却下されたようなものだ。
This proposal has been practically rejected.
会社の経営は実質副社長が握っている。
The vice president effectively runs the company.
USAGE:
Sense 1 is common in economics: 実質GDP (実質国内総生産), 実質賃金 (real wages), 実質成長率 (real growth rate). These contrast with 名目 (nominal) values. Sense 2 is widely used in everyday conversation to mean "in practice" or "for all intents and purposes."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 実質的: substantial, practical, effective
- 実質賃金: real wages
- 実質GDP: real GDP
- 名目と実質: nominal vs. real
- 実質無料: practically free