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本音: real intention, motive, true opinion, what one really thinks | JLPT N1 Vocabulary | JLPTMatome

本音(ほんね)

ほんね

real intention, motive, true opinion, what one really thinks

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Reading and meaning

FuriganaEnglish

彼(かれ)は会議(かいぎ)では賛成(さんせい)を装(よそお)っていたが、後(あと)で本音(ほんね)を漏(も)らした。
Although he pretended to agree during the meeting, he later revealed what he really thought.
本音(ほんね)を言(い)えば、その計画(けいかく)には賛成(さんせい)しかねる。
To be honest, I cannot agree with that plan.

本音(ほんね)と建前(たてまえ)の隔(へだ)たりが、両者(りょうしゃ)の関係(かんけい)を次第(しだい)に複雑(ふくざつ)にしていった。

The gap between their true feelings and public pretenses gradually complicated their relationship.

彼女(かのじょ)は本音(ほんね)を隠(かく)したまま、交渉(こうしょう)の席(せき)を立(た)った。

She left the negotiating table without revealing what she really thought.