本当 usage.

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Reply #1 - 2010 March 22, 1:56 pm
stplush Member
From: USA Registered: 2009-03-19 Posts: 63

I hear this word all the time when watching tv.  The English translation says it means truth/reality.  I know languages aren't meant to match up meanings and I'm guessing this word has a different usage.

Could someone please help me better understand.  Thank you.

Reply #2 - 2010 March 22, 2:01 pm
Tobberoth Member
From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

That's what it means.

"I ate dog once."
"Really?" <- You could use hontou here. It would mean something more along the lines of "Honestly??" in a literal sense though.

"I really love this shirt." <- You could use hontou instead of really here as well, similar to the above sense.

"It's true that I'm 2 meters tall" <- Here you could use hontou for true.

So basically, it either means "true" or "honestly".

Reply #3 - 2010 March 22, 2:01 pm
Rekkusu Member
From: Kyoto Registered: 2009-07-12 Posts: 172

It means truth/reality tongue
You could also say it gets used as "really?" (本当？) or "is that true" (それは本当ですか), though arguably true and really come from truth and reality tongue

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Reply #4 - 2010 March 22, 2:05 pm
ruiner Member
Registered: 2009-08-20 Posts: 751

I truly love 本当に. Verily, I assure you.

Reply #5 - 2010 March 22, 2:36 pm
gyuujuice Member
From: USA Registered: 2008-09-24 Posts: 828

本当 is often paired with the に particle.
Here are some common examples:
本当（に）？　                     Really? (に is toally optional here)
僕は本当にうそを附きません。   I'm honestly not lying!
M：むりでしょう。　　　　　　It's probably impossible
F：本当ね。                        True.

I hope that helps!

Reply #6 - 2010 March 22, 2:41 pm
stplush Member
From: USA Registered: 2009-03-19 Posts: 63

I thought wrong then, lol.

Thanks all.

*EDIT*
I didn't have time earlier.  But yeah, I didn't know it could mean "really?" which is a very common word.  I was taking it to literally.

Thanks guys, you've made it a lot easier on me when watching tv now.smile

Last edited by stplush (2010 March 22, 9:44 pm)

Reply #7 - 2010 March 31, 11:48 pm
hereticalrants Member
From: Winterland Registered: 2009-10-23 Posts: 289

o rlly?

Reply #8 - 2010 April 01, 1:08 am
Jarvik7 Member
From: 名古屋 Registered: 2007-03-05 Posts: 3946

本真っすか？

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