本日（ほんじつ、honjitsu）
- today

The Japanese word 本日 (ほんじつ) means "today" or "this day." It is a formal and polite way of referring to the current day. It is often used in announcements, formal letters, or business contexts. 本日 emphasizes the specific day the speaker or writer is addressing. The nuance is more specific and formal than the general "today."

⚫︎本日、休診です。 Translation: Today, the clinic is closed. ⚫︎本日、会議は10時から始まります。 Translation: The meeting will start from 10 o'clock today. ⚫︎本日、新商品の発売を開始します。 Translation: We will start selling new products today.

⚫︎本日 is suitable for formal situations, announcements, and written communication. ⚫︎Use 本日 in business emails, official documents, or when addressing an audience. ⚫︎Avoid using 本日 in casual conversations with friends. Instead, use more informal words for "today," such as 今日（きょう). ⚫︎It's common in formal greetings, for example, "Thank you for coming today" would translate to something like 本日お越しいただきありがとうございます.

⚫︎The standard way to write 本日 is with the kanji 本日. ⚫︎The reading is ほんじつ, written in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎今日 (きょう) - Today (more casual) ⚫︎この日 (このひ) - This day (slightly more general) ⚫︎当本日 (とうほんじつ) - This day, today (very formal, often used in legal or official context)

⚫︎昨日 (きのう) - Yesterday ⚫︎明日 (あした or あす) - Tomorrow

本日は晴天で、絶好のピクニック日和です。 ・Translation: Today is a fine day, perfect for a picnic. ・Explanation: The sentence uses 本日 to formally state that the present day's weather is suitable for a picnic.

本日のイベントは、100名を超える参加者で賑わいました。 ・Translation: Today's event was lively with over 100 participants. ・Explanation: The use of 本日 gives the sentence a formal tone, suitable for reporting on the day's event.

The word 本日 is formed from two kanji: ⚫︎本 (ほん) means "origin," "main," or "this." ⚫︎日 (にち or ひ) means "day." Together, they literally mean "this day," referring to the present day.