Learn Hardcore Japanese: hontou ha, eigakan ni ikitai desu ga, kyou ha okane ga arimasen. - To tell the truth, I want to go to the movie theater, but I don't have money today.

Word

本当ほんとう　は、　映画館えいがかん　に　行いきたい　です　が、　今日きょう　は　お金かね　が　ありません。hontou wa, eigakan ni ikitai desu ga, kyou wa okane ga arimasen.

Meaning

To tell the truth, I want to go to the movie theater, but I don't have money today.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Lesson

Breakdown of hontou wa, eigakan ni ikitai desu ga, kyou wa okane ga arimasen.

What does 本当は mean here, and why is は used after 本当?

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:

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

So the feeling is:

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

Why are there two は particles in the sentence: 本当は and 今日は?

They are doing slightly different but related jobs.

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

In this sentence, the speaker is contrasting:

So 今日は can imply something like:

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

Why is に used after 映画館?