本旨

• Reading: ほんし
• Romaji: honshi
• Kanji breakdown: 本 (hon/moto) — true, fundamental; 旨 (shi/mune) — gist, purport, intent
• Pronunciation: /ho.ɴ.ɕi/

Meaning

Main purpose; true intent; gist; principal aim. Refers to the essential or fundamental purpose behind something.

Most commonly used in legal, administrative, and academic contexts to describe the central or principal intent of a document, law, or argument. 本旨 suggests that there may be peripheral interpretations, but this is the core meaning. Common collocations include 本旨を逸脱する (to deviate from the main purpose) and 本旨に従う (to act in accordance with the true intent).

Examples

1. この法律の本旨は、弱者の権利を守ることにある。 The principal aim of this law is to protect the rights of the vulnerable.
2. 彼の長い演説の本旨は、結局のところ予算増額の要求だった。 The gist of his long speech was, in the end, a demand for a budget increase.
3. 条文の字義通りに解釈するのではなく、制定者の本旨に従うべきだ。 Rather than interpreting the text literally, one should act in accordance with the true intent of those who enacted it.

Usage Guide

Context: law, policy, academic writing, administration

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 本 (hon, true, fundamental) and 旨 (shi, gist, purport, intent). Together they describe the true or fundamental purport — what something is really about at its core, as opposed to peripheral or literal interpretations.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated