1.
the bottom of one's heart; one's true feelings
The deepest part of one's feelings or intentions.
心底からの願い。
A wish from the bottom of one's heart.
彼女の心底が見えない。
I can't see what she truly feels inside.
心底では何を考えているのかわからない。
I don't know what he's really thinking deep down.
2.
truly; genuinely; from the bottom of one's heart
Used adverbially to emphasize that something is felt or done with complete sincerity.
心底うれしかった。
I was truly happy.
心底ほっとした。
I was genuinely relieved.
あのとき心底から後悔したのを今でも覚えている。
I still remember truly regretting it at that time.
Composed of 心 (heart/mind) + 底 (bottom). Refers to the very depths of one's feelings. Can function as a noun (one's innermost feelings) or as an adverb (truly, genuinely).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 心底から: from the bottom of one's heart
- 心底では: deep down; in one's heart of hearts
- 心底うれしい: genuinely happy
- 心底ほっとする: to be truly relieved
- 心底怒る: to be genuinely angry
READING NOTE:
Also read as しんてい, though しんそこ is more common in everyday usage. The しんてい reading is more literary.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 本心: true feelings — focuses on what one genuinely thinks/wants; 心底 emphasizes depth of feeling
- 本当に: truly — a common general intensifier; 心底 is more emotional and literary
- 心から: from the heart — similar in meaning but less emphatic than 心底