本 心(ほんしん)

ほんしん

noun

true feelings, real intentions

1. true feelings, real intentions

One's genuine inner thoughts or feelings, as opposed to what is expressed outwardly. Implies a gap between what someone says or shows and what they actually feel.

彼(かれ)の本心(ほんしん)がわからない。

I can't tell what his true feelings are.

冗談(じょうだん)のつもりだったが、本心(ほんしん)ではそう思(おも)っていた。

I meant it as a joke, but deep down I really felt that way.

あの人(ひと)は笑顔(えがお)の裏(うら)に本心(ほんしん)を隠(かく)しているような気(き)がする。

I get the feeling that person hides their true feelings behind a smile.

Usage

Often appears in contexts where someone's outward behavior differs from their inner feelings. In Japanese culture, where 建前(たてまえ) (public facade) and 本音(ほんね) (true feelings) are important concepts, 本心(ほんしん) carries similar weight to 本音(ほんね) but sounds slightly more formal and literary.

Common collocations

本心(ほんしん)を隠(かく)す: to hide one's true feelings
本心(ほんしん)を明(あ)かす: to reveal one's true feelings
本心(ほんしん)から: from the heart, sincerely

Similar words

本音(ほんね): true feelings, honest opinion (more conversational)
真意(しんい): true intention (more formal, used for statements/actions)

Related Words

Synonym: 本音(ほんね) (true feelings, real opinion)

Compare: 真意(しんい) (true intention)

Compare: 内心(ないしん) (inwardly, in one's heart)

Compare: 心底(しんそこ) (the bottom of one's heart)

Compare: 本意(ほんい) (real intention)

Compare: 心中(しんちゅう) (one's true feelings)

general

Added 2026.2.22 21:39 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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