Honestly, actually
Openers that flag how real or how frank the next thing said is.
jitsu wa
actually; to tell the truth
実は じつは
Opens a confession, a piece of news or a favour, and signals that something real or unexpected is coming.
jitsu wa anmari suki ja nai.
Actually, I don't really like it.
実はあんまり好きじゃない。
jitsu wa amari suki ja nai desu.
Actually, I don't really like it.
実はあまり好きじゃないです。
Often stretched as jitsu wa ne... to buy a moment before the news.
Learn alongside: shoujiki
shoujiki
honestly; frankly
正直 しょうじき
Goes at the start of a sentence to mark a frank opinion, often a negative one; shoujiki ni iu to means 'to be honest'.
shoujiki, anmari suki ja nai.
Honestly, I'm not a big fan.
正直、あんまり好きじゃない。
shoujiki, amari suki ja nai desu.
Honestly, I'm not a big fan.
正直、あまり好きじゃないです。
As a na-adjective it means 'honest' (shoujiki na hito).
Learn alongside: jitsu wa
maji de
polite hontou niseriously; for real
マジで まじで 本当に
A casual intensifier ('really, seriously') among friends. Said alone with a rising tone, it means 'seriously?'.
kore, maji de oishii.
This is seriously good.
これ、マジでおいしい。
kore, hontou ni oishii desu ne.
This is really good.
これ、本当においしいですね。
Never with superiors or strangers; use hontou ni instead (often clipped to honto ni in speech). maji? alone works too; maji ka is rough and male-coded.
Learn first: honto ni