真相
shinsō[ɕĩɰ̃so̞ː]
真相 (shinsō) (shinso) is the Japanese phrase for the true nature of a situation or the actual facts behind a mystery or crime.
真相 refers to the truth or the real story. It is most commonly used when discussing the process of uncovering a hidden truth, particularly in the contexts of news reports, investigative journalism or detective stories.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 真 (shin), meaning 'true' or 'real' and 相 (sō), meaning 'aspect' or 'appearance'.
How do you pronounce it?
shinsō
Did you know?
- While English speakers might say 'the truth came out', Japanese speakers often use the verb 暴く (abaku), meaning 'to expose' or 'to tear open', specifically when hunting for the 真相.
- While 真相 refers to the factual truth, Japanese has a different word, 真実 (shinjitsu), for an abstract or universal truth, such as 'the truth of love'.
- In Japanese pop culture, particularly in detective anime and manga, the phrase 真相 is often shouted during a dramatic climax to signal that the mystery has been solved.
Examples in context
- 真相を究明する。shinsou o kyuumei suru.To investigate the truth.
- 犯人は真相を隠しているようだ。hannin wa shinsou o kakushite iru you da.It seems the criminal is hiding the truth.
Example conversation
Two siblings are discussing a mystery in a book.
- 陽葵 Himariこの話の真相はどうなっているの？kono hanashi no shinsō wa dō natte iru no?What is the true story behind this tale?
- 陽太 Yota最後まで読めばわかるよ。saigo made yomeba wakaru yo.You'll understand if you read until the end.
- 陽葵 Himari早く真相を知りたいな。hayaku shinsō o shiritai na.I want to know the truth quickly.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、あせらないで読んでね。himari, aseranaide yonde ne.Himari, please read without rushing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 真相, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
