正体(しょうたい)

しょうたい
noun
true identity, true nature
1. true identity, true nature, real character
The actual nature or identity of something or someone that has been hidden, disguised, or unknown. Often used in contexts of mystery, revelation, or unmasking.
犯人(はんにん)の正体(しょうたい)がわかった。
The criminal's true identity was discovered.
あの怪(あや)しい音(おと)の正体(しょうたい)は猫(ねこ)だった。
The source of that mysterious sound turned out to be a cat.
彼(かれ)は正体(しょうたい)を隠(かく)して別人(べつじん)のふりをしていた。
He was hiding his true identity and pretending to be someone else.

USAGE:
Often appears in the pattern 正体(しょうたい)を現(あらわ)す (to reveal one's true nature) or 正体(しょうたい)が分(わ)かる/判明(はんめい)する (to discover the true identity). Also used in 正体(しょうたい)不明(ふめい) (identity unknown). The word carries an inherent nuance that the truth was previously concealed or obscured.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 正体(しょうたい)を現(あらわ)す: to reveal one's true nature
  • 正体(しょうたい)を隠(かく)す: to hide one's true identity
  • 正体(しょうたい)不明(ふめい): of unknown identity
  • 正体(しょうたい)を暴(あば)く: to expose the true identity

RELATED EXPRESSION:
正体(しょうたい)をなくす means "to lose consciousness" (from drinking or exhaustion), a distinct idiomatic usage.

general
Added 2026.2.24 15:07
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