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Word 603 of 2066

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本質

ほんしつ

essence

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 問題の本質を見よう。

    もんだいのほんしつをみよう。

    Let's look at the essence of the problem.

  2. 議論が長くなると本質から離れてしまう。

    ぎろんがながくなるとほんしつからはなれてしまう。

    When a discussion drags on, it drifts away from the heart of the matter.

  3. 彼の優しさは本質的なものだと思う。

    かれのやさしさはほんしつてきなものだとおもう。

    I think his kindness is something essential to him.

Common patterns

本質を見抜く
to see through to the essence
問題の本質
the heart of the problem
本質的な違い
an essential difference

Memory tip

本質 is what a thing really is beneath the surface, so it pairs with verbs of seeing through: 本質を見抜く, 本質をとらえる. The adjective is 本質的な.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 本質 mean?