心底

• Reading: しんそこ
• Romaji: shinsoko
• Kanji breakdown: 心 (shin/kokoro) — heart, mind; 底 (tei/soko) — bottom, depths
• Pronunciation: /ɕiɴso̞ko̞/

Meaning

From the bottom of one's heart; truly; sincerely; deeply. Expresses a completely genuine and heartfelt emotion or conviction.

Functions as both a noun (心底 — the depths of one's heart) and an adverb (心底〜する/思う — to truly/sincerely do or feel something). Stronger than 本当に or 本心から. Used when expressing emotions or intentions that are absolutely genuine, leaving no room for doubt or pretence. Appears in both positive emotional contexts (gratitude, joy) and negative ones (anger, disgust).

Examples

1. 彼女の献身に、心底から感謝の気持ちが湧き上がった。 Her devotion filled me with a deep sense of gratitude from the bottom of my heart.
2. その裏切りを知ったとき、心底腹が立った。 When I found out about that betrayal, I was truly furious.
3. 長年の夢が叶い、心底うれしいと感じた。 When my long-held dream finally came true, I felt sincerely happy.

Usage Guide

Context: gratitude, anger, joy, sincerity

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of 心 (kokoro — heart, mind) and 底 (soko — bottom, depths). The image of the 'bottom of the heart' is a universal metaphor for absolute sincerity.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal