Learn Japanese while reading Manga with our new Manga Reader Tool!

Nihongo

Classroom

How to say 'Serious' in Japanese | 本気

Wondering how to say 'Serious' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Serious is 'Honki', written as 本気 in Japanese.'Serious' in hiragana is ほんき.

    word

    本気

    Meaning

    Serious

    Reading

    ほんき

    honki

    Kanji

    本Book, Origin 気Spirit

    Explanation

    The Japanese adjectival noun '本気 (ほんき)' means 'serious'. It is used to describe a genuine, earnest, or sincere attitude or state of mind. It often implies a lack of joking or superficiality. For example: He is serious about his studies「彼は勉強に本気です」(かれはべんきょうにほんきです). Are you serious?「本気ですか？」(ほんきですか？). It can also describe actions or situations that are done with full effort or commitment, such as '本気で頑張る (ほんきでがんばる) (to seriously try hard)'.

    Part Of Speech

    adjectival noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N5

    Kanji Grade

    1

    Frequency

    5193

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 本気

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    本

    Meaning

    Book, Origin

  • kanji

    気

    Meaning

    Spirit

Words Related to 本気 Through the Kanji 本

These 35 Words contain the Kanji 本 as well.

  • word

    日本

    Meaning

    Japan

  • word

    本

    Meaning

    Book

  • word

    本当

    Meaning

    Truth

  • word

    本当に

    Meaning

    Really

  • word

    基本

    Meaning

    Basis

  • word

    本屋

    Meaning

    Bookstore

  • word

    資本

    Meaning

    Capital

  • word

    本人

    Meaning

    Person

  • word

    本棚

    Meaning

    Bookshelf

  • word

    本箱

    Meaning

    Bookshelf

  • word

    本質

    Meaning

    Essence

  • word

    本書

    Meaning

    This book

  • word

    本の

    Meaning

    Mere

  • word

    本部

    Meaning

    Headquarters

  • word

    根本

    Meaning

    Root, Basis

  • word

    本物

    Meaning

    Real, Genuine

  • word

    本格

    Meaning

    Genuine

  • word

    資本主義

    Meaning

    Capitalism

  • word

    本社

    Meaning

    Headquarters

  • word

    本能

    Meaning

    Instinct

  • word

    本来

    Meaning

    Originally

  • word

    本年

    Meaning

    This year

  • word

    本日

    Meaning

    Today

  • word

    手本

    Meaning

    Example, Model

  • word

    見本

    Meaning

    Example, Sample

  • word

    本国

    Meaning

    Home country

  • word

    本店

    Meaning

    Main store

  • word

    古本

    Meaning

    Used book

  • word

    本文

    Meaning

    Main text

  • word

    本音

    Meaning

    True feelings

  • word

    本格的

    Meaning

    Genuine

  • word

    日本酒

    Meaning

    Sake

  • word

    本願

    Meaning

    Vow

  • word

    絵本

    Meaning

    Picture book

  • word

    本体

    Meaning

    Main body

Words Related to 本気 Through the Kanji 気

These 42 Words contain the Kanji 気 as well.

  • word

    気

    Meaning

    Spirit, Mood

  • word

    元気

    Meaning

    Healthy, Energetic

  • word

    気持ち

    Meaning

    Feeling

  • word

    病気

    Meaning

    Illness

  • word

    気に入る

    Meaning

    Like

  • word

    気付く

    Meaning

    Notice

  • word

    気分

    Meaning

    Mood

  • word

    天気予報

    Meaning

    Weather forecast

  • word

    人気

    Meaning

    Popularity

  • word

    空気

    Meaning

    Air

  • word

    雰囲気

    Meaning

    Atmosphere

  • word

    気を付ける

    Meaning

    Take care, Beware

  • word

    電気

    Meaning

    Electricity

  • word

    気力

    Meaning

    Energy, Willpower

  • word

    気味

    Meaning

    Feeling, Tendency

  • word

    寒気

    Meaning

    Chill

  • word

    気軽

    Meaning

    Casual

  • word

    景気

    Meaning

    Economy, Mood

  • word

    気配

    Meaning

    Presence, Sign

  • word

    一気

    Meaning

    All at once

  • word

    気楽

    Meaning

    Carefree

  • word

    勇気

    Meaning

    Courage

  • word

    気象

    Meaning

    Weather

  • word

    湿気

    Meaning

    Humidity

  • word

    意気

    Meaning

    Spirit, Enthusiasm

  • word

    気圧

    Meaning

    Pressure

  • word

    高気圧

    Meaning

    High pressure

  • word

    気絶

    Meaning

    Fainting

  • word

    天気

    Meaning

    Weather

  • word

    浮気

    Meaning

    Affair

  • word

    強気

    Meaning

    Confident, Bullish

  • word

    弱気

    Meaning

    Timid

  • word

    遣る気

    Meaning

    Motivation

  • word

    気の毒

    Meaning

    Pitiful

  • word

    平気

    Meaning

    Fine, Unfazed

  • word

    生意気

    Meaning

    Cheeky

  • word

    不景気

    Meaning

    Recession

  • word

    気温

    Meaning

    Temperature

  • word

    気候

    Meaning

    Climate

  • word

    低気圧

    Meaning

    Low pressure

  • word

    湯気

    Meaning

    Steam

  • word

    無邪気

    Meaning

    Innocent

Learn the Word 本気

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Honki' (本気) mean?

'Honki' means 'Serious' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.