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Word 2227 of 4449

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本気

ほんき

seriousness; earnestness; being in earnest

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. ケンさん、君は本気かい。

    けんさん、きみはほんきかい。

    Are you serious, Ken?

  2. 冗談のつもりだったのに、彼は本気にした。

    じょうだんのつもりだったのに、かれはほんきにした。

    I meant it as a joke, but he took it seriously.

  3. 今度こそ本気で日本語を勉強するつもりだ。

    こんどこそほんきでにほんごをべんきょうするつもりだ。

    This time I really do intend to study Japanese in earnest.

Common patterns

本気で〜する
to do something in earnest
本気にする
to take at face value; to believe
本気を出す
to start trying for real

Memory tip

Watch the two idioms: 本気にする is what the listener does (believing a joke), 本気を出す is what the doer does (stopping holding back). 真剣 is close but more solemn; 本気 is colloquial and often mildly challenging.

Kanji in this word

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What does 本気 mean?