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N5

Kanji 本: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 本: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things

Key takeaways

Kanji 本: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

bookpresentmainorigintruerealcounter for long cylindrical things

On reading

ホン

Kun reading

もと

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 本

book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

A horizontal line is added to the bottom of a tree (木) to point to its roots, representing the origin or foundation. Just as roots are the source of a tree's growth, it also came to mean a book, which contains the foundation of knowledge.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ホン
  • 脚本きゃくほん

    script / scenario / screenplay

  • 台本だいほん

    script / scenario / libretto

  • 手本てほん

    model / example / pattern

  • 本格ほんかく

    authentic / genuine / proper

  • 本館ほんかん

    main building

  • 本気ほんき

    seriousness / earnestness

  • 本質ほんしつ

    essence / true nature

  • 本体ほんたい

    main body / true form / essence

Commonly used words

  • 脚本
    きゃくほん

    script / scenario / screenplay

  • 台本
    だいほん

    script / scenario / libretto

  • 手本
    てほん

    model / example / pattern

  • 本格
    ほんかく

    authentic / genuine / proper

  • 本館
    ほんかん

    main building

  • 本気
    ほんき

    seriousness / earnestness

Example sentences

Example 1

この映画の脚を書きました。

Translation

I wrote the script for this movie.

Example 2

を読んで役を決めます。

Translation

We decide roles after reading the script.

Example 3

問題の根を考えよう。

Translation

Let's think about the root of the problem.

Example 4

健康は根から大切です。

Translation

Health is important from the foundation.

Kanji 本: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things | Daily Nihongo