Meaning

Primary

Real Thing

Alternatives

Real Deal, Genuine Article

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

The real thing is the real thing, aka the real deal.

If you learned as book you can also think of this word as the "book thing." What is this book thing? Is it the real version of the book? Is it the real deal? If so, I'll pay you a million.

Reading

ほんもの
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The readings are on'yomi plus kun'yomi (kun'yomi is ). You learned the reading of the kanji and also the vocabulary reading of , so you should be able to read it.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 本物になる

    to become the real deal

    本物に見える

    to look like the real deal

    本物になれる

    can become the real deal

Context Sentences

このレタス、もしかして本物なの?

Is this lettuce perhaps real?

このナイキのスニーカー、本物だと思って買いました。

I bought these Nike sneakers thinking they were real.

本物の金持ちは税金を払う義務について悪口なんて言わないよ。

Real rich people won't even complain about their duty of paying taxes.

Kanji Composition