1A pre-noun adjectival indicating a very small amount or degree; 'mere', 'only', 'just', 'slight'. Almost always written in kana.
ほんの少しでいいので、手伝ってもらえませんか。
Could you help me, even just a little?
これはほんの気持ちです。よかったら受け取ってください。
This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it if you'd like.
彼の言ったことはほんの冗談だったから、気にしないで。
What he said was only a joke, so don't worry about it.
駅まではほんの五分の距離だ。
It's only a five-minute distance to the station.