実(じつ)

じつ

noun

real; actual; biological (in fixed expressions)

1. real; actual; biological

Used with の to mark something as 'real', 'actual', or 'by blood'. Appears in a small set of common patterns including biological-family terms and rhetorical phrases that contrast the actual with the apparent.

実(じつ)の母親(ははおや)に会(あ)った。

I met my biological mother.

実(じつ)を言(い)うと、まだ決(き)めていない。

To tell the truth, I haven't decided yet.

彼女(かのじょ)は義理(ぎり)の姉(あね)で、実(じつ)の姉(あね)ではない。

She's my sister-in-law, not my biological sister.

Sino-Japanese reading of 実} meaning 'real' or 'actual'. Functions as a noun mainly in the fixed pattern {実(じつ)の〜 (biological/real ~) and a few set phrases. The same kanji is also read み (fruit; substance) as a separate everyday word.

Common collocations

実(じつ)の母(はは) / 父(ちち) / 兄(あに) / 姉(あね): biological mother/father/brother/sister
実(じつ)の親(おや): biological parent
実(じつ)を言(い)うと / 実(じつ)を言(い)えば: to tell the truth
実(じつ)のところ: actually; in fact
実(じつ)は: actually (sentence-initial)

Similar words

本当(ほんとう): real; true — the everyday equivalent
現実(げんじつ): reality — abstract; the real world as opposed to imagination
本物(ほんもの): the real thing — refers to objects, contrasted with fakes

Related Words

Compare: 本当(ほんとう) (real)

Compare: 本物(ほんもの) (the real thing)

general

Added 2026.5.29 12:08 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

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