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
general
Added 2026.5.29 12:08
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