What is the correct reading of 心底?


The word 心底 has 2 readings which are しんそこ and しんてい. Both seem to be
interchangeable with one another. Searching online has this page popping up.
<https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q10112707945>. To
quote it directly, the difference is explained as, "「しんそこ」 は思っている状態、「しんてい」
は思っているそのこと。". So to phrase it differently, しんそこ is used to describe a state of
thinking whereas しんてい is used to emphasize a thing about thinking? Forgive me
if I got it wrong or misinterpreted it but the answer doesn't really seem to
explain the proper usage or reading of the word to me.




You've included a link to Chiebukuro but that site actually links the more
helpful kotobank definitions
[here](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%BF%83%E5%BA%95-538259).

First, both readings are correct. It isn't a case of one or the other being
right or wrong. There _are_ times when Japanese words can have the exact same
kanji and be read in different ways, with one being considered 'correct' -
this is called 慣用読み ("reading of a word or kanji using its customary
pronunciation (which is not necessarily correct)" - EDICT). A word like 貼付
would be an example of that.

However, in the case of 心底, it appears that each reading can convey a slightly
different semantic nuance. For example, the kotobank definitions list しんそこ as
referring to feelings and emotions:

> 心底から感服する to admire someone from the bottom of your heart. _(
> **feelings/emotion** )_

On the other hand, しんてい seems to refer the actual thoughts that someone has,
thoughts that are deeply believed.

> 心底を見抜く to see through to what someone really thinks in their heart. _(
> **thoughts** )_

In some ways, the distinction is just academic. I would say that there isn't
really much difference between the feelings in your heart and the thoughts
that arise from those feelings. It seems like a trivial distinction, in my
opinion.

In any case, both readings of 心底 are correct. They convey slightly different
meanings, at least according to some sources.

