Rank 91BeginnerHanziDB frequency list + CC-CEDICT

Hanzi sentence loop

本 - běn

root, origin, source; basis. Learn the character inside a sentence before pretending one square is a lesson.

本事 is a common expression.
Practice recall Open Practice

本 in a real sentence

本事 is a common expression.

Read 本 inside a short line first. Isolated character memorization is where motivation goes to nap.

01 Hear the sentence Play the full sentence, not only 本. Mandarin sound lives in context.
02 Find the character Spot 本, then read the whole phrase with pinyin and English visible.
03 Recall the meaning Log it for Practice, then try the Hanzi sentence quiz without staring at the page.

Reading supports

Use these after the first listen. Pinyin is scaffolding; English is context; neither should become a sofa.

How to read 本

Click 本 to hear Mandarin pronunciation. Use the example words before memorizing it in isolation.

Hanzi
Traditional
Pinyinběn
Englishroot, origin, source; basis
Radical hint

Short sentences you can say today

本事 is a common expression. I can make a sentence with 本人. Please read 本位 one more time.

Common words with this character

source material; original story
I; me; myself; oneself; yourself; himself; herself; the person concerned
standard; benchmark; one's own department or unit; central reference point; fundamental frame of reference
original; originally; at first

Mistake warning

Do not memorize 本 only as an isolated symbol. Read it inside words like 本事 and 本人 first, then come back to the single-character pronunciation.

Original example sentence

I am learning the character 本.