本日 vs 今日 - Is there any difference?

Hello everyone

I would like to know the difference between Kyou & Honjitsu. Is there?

今日 (kyou) and 本日 (honjitsu) both mean “today.”

However 本日 (honjitsu) is much more formal than 今日 (kyou). Therefore, in daily conversation you will almost always hear 今日 (kyou) rather than 本日 (honjitsu).

TachibanaTenshi wrote on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 at 5:06 PM

今日 (kyou) and 本日 (honjitsu) both mean “today.”

However 本日 (honjitsu) is much more formal than 今日 (kyou). Therefore, in daily conversation you will almost always hear 今日 (kyou) rather than 本日 (honjitsu).

can you give an example for using "honjitsu" ? maybe in buisness meeting or...?

this is such a great question, i always wanted to know myself.

That is great!

Waffle wrote on Sunday the 28th of June 2015 at 3:31 AM

TachibanaTenshi wrote on Sunday the 17th of May 2015 at 10:06 PM

今日 (kyou) and 本日 (honjitsu) both mean “today.”

However 本日 (honjitsu) is much more formal than 今日 (kyou). Therefore, in daily conversation you will almost always hear 今日 (kyou) rather than 本日 (honjitsu).

can you give an example for using "honjitsu" ? maybe in buisness meeting or...?

"本日" is a polite form of saying "today". However, it is not 尊敬語 (sonkeigo). This is used when giving public speeches, business proposals, writing an e-mail or a letter... In conversations, it can still be used but people who use that are usually people with a higher social status; like a very rich ojou-sama and the likes.