本
Character
a counting word for books (一本书: one book)
Meaning
běn
ben3- a counting word for books (一本书: one book)
- this; the current one (本月: this month)
- originally; at first (本来: originally)
Examples
我买了一本书。
wǒ mǎi le yī běn shū
I bought a book.
AI-generated sentence
我的本子在桌子上。
wǒ de běn zi zài zhuō zi shàng
My notebook is on the table.
AI-generated sentence
本月我要学汉语。
běn yuè wǒ yào xué hàn yǔ
This month I want to study Chinese.
AI-generated sentence
Stroke order
All 5 strokes
Speed
Practice writing 本
Draw “本” here — the faint guide shows its shape.
Words with 本
See all 388 →本子běn zia notebook, a book for writing inWordHSK 1本事běn shìskill; the ability to do something wellWordHSK 3本来běn láiat first; originally (before something changed)WordHSK 3本领běn lǐnga skill; something you have learned to do wellWordHSK 3本科běn kēundergraduate studies; university study leading to a first degreeWordHSK 4本人běn rénI; me (a polite, formal way to talk about yourself)WordHSK 5本土běn tǔlocal; belonging to the country or place where you liveWordHSK 6本地běn dìof or from the place where you are or liveWordHSK 6本期běn qīthis period of time, like this week, month, or yearWordHSK 6本质běn zhìthe true and basic nature of a thing; what it really isWordHSK 6本身běn shēnitself; the very thing we talk about, not anything elseWordHSK 6本分běn fènsomeone's duty; the work they should doWordHSK 7–9