hontou ha, eigakan ni ikitai desu ga, kyou ha okane ga arimasen.

本当は means something like actually, to tell the truth, or if I’m being honest.

The は adds a contrastive feeling. It is not just saying truth as a noun; it is more like:

• as for the truth
• actually
• the reality is...

In this sentence, 本当は suggests a contrast between what the speaker wants and the situation that prevents it.

So the feeling is:

• Actually, I want to go to the movie theater, but...

Without は, 本当 by itself would not sound natural in this role.

They are doing slightly different but related jobs.

• 本当は sets up a contrastive frame: actually / in truth
• 今日は means as for today or today, at least

Japanese often uses は to mark a topic or create contrast.

In this sentence, the speaker is contrasting:

• their true desire: 映画館に行きたいです
• today’s reality: 今日はお金がありません

So 今日は can imply something like:

• I don’t have money today
  (maybe on another day I might)

This use of は is very common when the speaker wants to highlight a particular condition or time.

The particle に marks the destination of movement.

Since 行く means to go, the place you go to is commonly marked with に:

• 学校に行く = go to school
• 日本に行く = go to Japan
• 映画館に行く = go to the movie theater

You may also sometimes see へ with 行く. Both can work for destinations, but:

• に focuses more directly on the destination
• へ emphasizes the direction toward it

In this sentence, 映画館に行きたい is the most natural standard phrasing.

行きたい is formed from the verb 行く.

The pattern is:

• verb stem + たい

For 行く:

• 行きます is the polite form
• the stem is 行き
• 行きたい = want to go

So:

• 食べたい = want to eat
• 見たい = want to see
• 帰りたい = want to go home

A useful point: たい behaves grammatically like an い-adjective, not like a normal verb after it is formed.

Both are correct, but the politeness level is different.

• 行きたい = plain style
• 行きたいです = polite style

Even though たい behaves like an い-adjective, Japanese often adds です to make it polite:

• 嬉しいです
• 忙しいです
• 行きたいです

So 行きたいです is a polite way to say I want to go.

Yes. That is an important grammar point.

Because たい behaves like an い-adjective, it changes like one:

• 行きたい = want to go
• 行きたくない = do not want to go
• 行きたかった = wanted to go
• 行きたくなかった = did not want to go

Polite versions are also possible:

• 行きたくないです
• 行きたかったです

So in this sentence, 行きたいです is part of that same adjective-like pattern.

Here, が is a conjunction meaning but or although.

It connects the two parts:

• 映画館に行きたいです
• 今日はお金がありません

So the sentence means:

• I want to go to the movie theater, but I don’t have money today.

A nuance point: sentence-linking が often sounds a little softer or less abrupt than a strong English but. It can feel gentle and conversational.

Japanese also commonly uses:

• けど
• けれども
• でも (at the start of a new sentence more often)

In this sentence, が is very natural and polite.

お金がありません is the neutral, standard way to say I don’t have money.

Here, が marks お金 as the thing that does not exist / is not present.

• お金がある = there is money / I have money
• お金がない = there is no money / I don’t have money

If you say お金はありません, the は adds contrast or emphasis, like:

• As for money, I don’t have any
• I may have other things, but money is what I don’t have

So がありません is the more straightforward choice here.

Japanese often expresses possession by using ある or いる, which literally relate to existence.

For inanimate things, use ある:

• お金がある = money exists → I have money
• 時間がある = time exists → I have time

For animate beings, use いる:

• 犬がいる = there is a dog / I have a dog

So お金がありません literally feels like money does not exist, but in natural English it means I don’t have money.

Yes.

Both are polite, but they have slightly different tones:

• お金がないです = polite, common in everyday speech
• お金がありません = more formal, more textbook-like, often a bit more careful

In this sentence, ありません matches the polite tone created by 行きたいです and が.

So the whole sentence sounds neat and polite.

Japanese often leaves out the subject when it is obvious from context.

In English, you usually need I:

• I want to go...
• I don’t have money...

In Japanese, if the speaker is clearly talking about themselves, 私は is often omitted.

So the full idea could be:

• 私は本当は映画館に行きたいですが、今日はお金がありません。

But in natural Japanese, leaving out 私は is very normal.

Japanese word order is more flexible than English, as long as the particles stay correct.

This sentence’s order is very natural:

• 本当は、映画館に行きたいですが、今日はお金がありません。

But you could move some elements for emphasis. For example:

• 今日は、本当は映画館に行きたいですが、お金がありません。

That puts more focus on today first.

Even so, the original version is smoother and easier for learners to follow. Japanese lets you move pieces around more than English, but not every possible order sounds equally natural.

Yes, very often.

本当は frequently introduces a hidden wish, true feeling, or reality that contrasts with what follows.

In this sentence, the speaker is saying:

• their true wish: go to the movie theater
• the obstacle: no money today

So it can imply:

• I’d really like to go, but I probably can’t.

That contrastive feeling is one reason 本当は is used so often in everyday speech.