図星 (zuboshi) Meaning “True, isn’t it?” in Japanese

Pronunciation

Definition

図星 (zuboshi) is an advanced Japanese word that means “exactly right” or “admittedly true”. It is used when you hit the nail on the head about someone, especially when you make an accurate statement about someone which makes them very upset because it is so true and undeniable. For instance, if your friends say “You are in love with her, aren’t you?” and that makes you obviously upset, they would go on to say “図星だろ? (zuboshi daro?)”, meaning “That’s so true, isn’t it?”.

Usage

This word is usually used with or without a copula (e.g. だ, です), as follows:

• 図星？=> “Is that right/true?”
• 図星でしょ (desho) or だろ (daro)？=> “That’s exactly right, isn’t it?”.
• 図星だ (da) or です (desu) => “(admittedly) quite right”

* You say “図星です” when you admit that someone’s guess is exactly right.

Word Origin and Structure

図星 consists of two kanji characters “図ず” (zu) meaning “figure” and “星ぼし” (boshi) meaning “star”. Originally, 図星 indicates the middle point of an archery target, and then it started to be used when someone spots one’s exact weakness or secret. Here, 星 reads “ぼし (boshi)”, which is different from the common reading “ほし (hoshi)”

Example Sentences

Ex1
彼女: 昨日きのう、知しらない女おんなの人ひとと歩あるいているの見みたよ
あなた: …は？そ、そんなわけないだろ
彼女: え、冗談じょうだんで言いったのに…もしかして図星？
GF: Yesterday I saw you walking with a girl I don’t know
YOU: … Wh, what? No way!!!
GF: I just said it as a joke, but … was it actually true?

Ex2
A: 部活ぶかつを辞やめたの後悔こうかいしてるでしょ
B: いやー図星だわ
A: You regret quitting the club, don’t you
B: Yea, that’s is admittedly quite right.

Ex3
彼女かのじょが田中たなかに言いったことはどうやら図星だったようで、すごく動揺どうようしていた。
It seems what she said to Tanaka was very true, and he was totally upset.

Synonyms: 当あたっている (that’s right), ぐうの音ねも出でない
Synonyms in English: exactly right, admittedly right, hit home, close to the bone
Related words and phrases: 図ず (figure), 星ほし (star)

See also

“I’m ぐうless”: A Japanese Idiom For Touché Moments