Japanese symbol for “truth”
本当
ほんとう
Romaji: hontou
truth; reality; actuality; fact
In Japanese, truth is 本当, read ほんとう (hontou).
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
- adj-na, adj-no, n truth; reality; actuality; fact
- adj-na, adj-no proper; right; correct; official
- adj-na, adj-no genuine; authentic; real; natural; veritable
Written forms: 本当、本當. Readings: ほんとう、ほんと、ホントー、ホント.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “truth”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 真実 | しんじつ shinjitsu | truth; reality |
| 真相 | しんそう shinsou | truth; real situation |
| 実際 | じっさい jissai | reality; actuality; truth |
| 実 | じつ jitsu | truth; reality |
| 真理 | しんり shinri | truth |
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 |
| 当時 | とうじ touji | at that time; in those days |
| 担当 | たんとう tantou | being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.) |
| 当然 | とうぜん touzen | natural; right; proper |
See also: Chinese symbol for “truth”.
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.