本人

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 本人 is read as ほんにん and is a noun for the very person directly concerned in a matter or report.
• Basic usage: Use 本人が記入する for the person acting personally and 本人に直接尋ねる for asking that person directly.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinguishing a representative
  • In an application context, 本人 emphasizes that the person concerned, not a proxy, must complete the form.
• Not always the speaker
  • It identifies the relevant person in context and is not automatically the same as 自分, the speaker’s or subject’s self.