What you actually think, as opposed to what you say. A load-bearing Japanese concept.

What a Japanese person actually thinks
Reads as a deliberate statement about not performing. Slightly pointed, in an interesting way — claiming honne publicly is itself a small rebellion against tatemae.

Meaning

Literally: true + sound
Actually: Your real feelings — the half of the honne/tatemae pair that stays private. 本音を言うと… ('to tell you what I really think…').

Scores

Naturalness●●●●●

Everyday word.

Coolness●●●●●

Two clean characters and a genuinely culture-specific idea. The paradox of displaying your private self is a feature.

Watch out

Nothing embarrassing lurking in here.

On skin

本音

Orientation: either

Mincho or brush.