How do you say "Really?" in Japanese?

"Really?" in Japanese is "ほんとうですか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Really?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "ほんとうですか。" mean in English?

"ほんとうですか。" means "Really?" in English. Usage tip: Good for confirmation. If you want to be extra gentle, you can say [本当ですか…？] with a softer intonation.

ほんとうですか。

hontou desu ka

[hone-toe dess kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Good for confirmation. If you want to be extra gentle, you can say [本当ですか…？] with a softer intonation.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, it’s normal to double-check politely rather than challenge. Follow with [理由を教えてください] if you need explanation.

Phrase Breakdown

ほんとう

hontou

[hone-toe]

really; true

Used to confirm whether something is true. Often said with surprise when hearing test results.

Example

検査結果は問題ないと聞きましたが、ほんとうですか。

I heard the test results show no problems— is that really true?

ですか。

desu ka

Is it? / Are you sure? (polite question)

です + か makes a polite yes/no question. With ほんとう, it’s “Really?/Is that true?”

Example

だいじょうぶですか。

Are you okay?

Words in this phrase

です

desu

[dess]

is/are (polite copula)

Polite form that states or confirms information. Common in doctor-patient conversations.

Example

結果は正常です。

The results are normal.

か

[kah]

question marker (like “?”)

Placed at the end to make a polite question, often when asking about results or next steps.

Example

この数値は大丈夫ですか。

Is this value okay?

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