Japanese symbol for “substance”
本体
ほんたい
Romaji: hontai
substance; true form; true character
In Japanese, substance is 本体, read ほんたい (hontai).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n substance; true form; true character
- n main part; main unit; body (of a machine)
- n object of worship (at a shrine, temple, etc.)
- n noumenon (phil)
- n base price; pre-tax price
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “substance”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 内容 | ないよう naiyou | contents; content; substance |
| 実質 | じっしつ jisshitsu | substance; essence |
| 物質 | ぶっしつ busshitsu | material; substance |
| 本質 | ほんしつ honshitsu | essence; true nature; substance |
| 実体 | じったい jittai | substance; essence; entity |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 日本 | にほん nihon | Japan |
| 基本 | きほん kihon | basics; fundamentals; basis |
| 本当 | ほんとう hontou | truth; reality; actuality |
| 本人 | ほんにん honnin | the person in question; the person themselves; said person |
| 本来 | ほんらい honrai | originally; primarily |
| 本気 | ほんき honki | seriousness; earnestness; truth |
| 全体 | ぜんたい zentai | whole; entirety |
| 団体 | だんたい dantai | group; party; team |
See also: Chinese symbol for “substance”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.