本命(ほんめい)

ほんめい
noun
favorite (to win); first choice; true love
evaluationemotion
1. favorite (to win); first choice; true love
The one most expected to win in a race or contest, and by extension one's real first choice, such as the school one most wants to enter or the person one truly loves.
本命(ほんめい)の馬(うま)が負(ま)けた。
The favorite lost the race.
第一(だいいち)志望(しぼう)の大学(だいがく)が本命(ほんめい)だ。
My first-choice university is the one I really want.
バレンタインデーに、彼女(かのじょ)は本命(ほんめい)の相手(あいて)にだけ手作(てづく)りのチョコを渡(わた)した。
On Valentine's Day she gave homemade chocolate only to the one she truly loved.

Originally horse-racing jargon for the favorite. The opposite is 大穴(おおあな) (long shot); in the romantic sense it contrasts with 義理(ぎり) (obligation).

Common collocations

  • 本命(ほんめい)チョコ: Valentine's chocolate for one's true love
  • 本命(ほんめい)視(し)される: to be seen as the favorite
  • 本命(ほんめい)の彼(かれ) / 彼女(かのじょ): one's serious boyfriend / girlfriend

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 第一志望(だいいちしぼう) (first choice)
general
Added 2026.10.3 16:34 · Revised 2026.10.3 16:36
31500/31506_honmei