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本人

Grammar & Usage

Noun / Pronoun

Formal / Business / Neutral

How it works

Functions as a standard noun/pronoun referring to the person in question, the principal party, or oneself. Takes standard case-marking particles (が, は, を, に, の). Frequently used in administrative, legal, and formal procedural contexts.

Sample sentences

銀行口座を開設するには、本人確認書類の提出が必要です。

To open a bank account, you need to submit identity verification documents.

本人に直接確かめてみないと、本当の理由は分かりません。

We won't know the real reason unless we ask the person directly.

Quick facts

reading:ほんにん (honnin)

jlptLevel:N3

pitchAccent:Atamadaka (頭高型, [1]) - ほ＼んにん

kanjiBreakdown:本 (hon - this/principal) + 人 (nin - person)

Often used with

本人確認 (identity verification)

ご本人様 (the person in question [honorific])

本人名義 (in one's own name / under the person's name)

本人立ち会い (in the presence of the principal party)

Mnemonic

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Example

銀行口座を開設するには、本人確認書類の提出が必要です。

To open a bank account, you need to submit identity verification documents.

本人に直接確かめてみないと、本当の理由は分かりません。

We won't know the real reason unless we ask the person directly.