Meaning and Usage
"本人" refers specifically to the person themselves, often emphasizing that it is the individual in question, not someone else. It is commonly used in formal or official contexts where identity or direct involvement matters.
Common Contexts
You will often see 本人 used in situations involving identity verification, legal documents, or when emphasizing that the person must be present or act personally.
Collocations and Patterns
- 本人確認 (ほんにんかくにん): identity verification, used in official or security contexts.
- 本人が〜する: the person themselves do something, emphasizing direct action.
- 本人のみ: only the person themselves, excluding others.
Register and Nuance
This word is polite and formal, suitable for business, legal, or administrative language. It is not casual and usually not used in everyday informal conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 本人 with 他人 (たにん, other person) or 自分 (じぶん, oneself in a more general sense). 本人 specifically points to the exact person involved, often in official contexts, so use it when you want to stress that the individual themselves is involved or responsible.