本 (běn) means "root, origin" with 5 strokes, radical 木 (tree), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: root
Other meanings:
- origin
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
本 is a pictograph of a tree with a mark at its base indicating the root. The earliest forms show 木 (tree) with a short horizontal stroke or dot at the bottom of the trunk, pointing to the part below ground. This makes 本 a classic指事 (zhǐshì) indicative character, where an abstract concept is shown by adding a diacritic to a pictograph.
Form evolution
Oracle bone and bronze forms use a clear dot or thick spot at the tree's base. In seal script the dot was stretched into a short horizontal stroke, giving the form very close to today's 本. Clerical and modern standard script regularised the strokes but kept the structure of 木 plus one horizontal at the bottom, so the indicative mark remains visible.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning was literally the root of a tree, and by extension the base, origin, or foundation of anything. From there it came to mean source, principal, or original version, as in 本来 (originally) and 根本 (fundamental). The modern sense of a book or bound volume and its use as a measure word for books came later, from the idea of an original manuscript or copy.
Cultural note
The phrase 本末倒置 (běn mò dào zhì), literally putting the root and the tip in reverse, preserves the original botanical sense and is still used to criticise someone who confuses what is essential with what is secondary. The paired character 末 uses the same trick, with the mark placed at the top of 木 to indicate the tip.
Mnemonic
A line at the root of a tree — origin, book
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | běn |
| Meanings | root, origin |
| Stroke count | 5 strokes |
| Radical | 木 (#75: tree) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #22 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 本
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本 | běn | root, origin | HSK 1 |
| 笔记本 | bǐjìběn | notebook | HSK 3 |
| 本来 | běnlái | originally | HSK 4 |
| 本科 | běnkē | Undergraduate | HSK 4 |
| 本领 | běnlǐng | ability | HSK 5 |
| 根本 | gēnběn | at all | HSK 5 |
| 基本 | jīběn | basic | HSK 4 |
| 本质 | běnzhì | essence | HSK 5 |
| 版本 | bǎnběn | version, edition | HSK 6 |
| 本分 | běnfèn | one's duty, one's job | HSK 7-9 |
| 本能 | běnnéng | instinct | HSK 6 |
| 本色 | běnsè | natural color, true qualities | HSK 7-9 |
| 本身 | běnshēn | itself, oneself | HSK 6 |
| 本事 | běnshi | ability, skill | HSK 7-9 |
| 本土 | běntǔ | one's native country | HSK 6 |
| 本位 | běnwèi | standard, one's own department | |
| 本性 | běnxìng | natural instincts, nature | HSK 7-9 |
| 本意 | běnyì | original intention | HSK 7-9 |
Related characters
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.