本

Meaning

本 centers on the root or origin of something, from which ideas of main, true, and real naturally follow. The book and counter senses are extensions of this root idea: a book as a source of knowledge, and long cylindrical things as rooted or fundamental objects.

• 日本にほん
  N4

  Japan

• 本ほん
  N5

  book; volume; script

• 本当にほんとうに
  N5

  really; truly

• 基本きほん
  N3

  basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation

• 本当ほんとう
  N5

  truth; reality; actuality; fact

• 日本人にほんじん

  Japanese person

• 日本語にほんご
  N5

  Japanese (language)

• 本人ほんにん
  N3

  the person in question; the person themselves; said person

• 本気ほんき
  N2

  seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity

• 本来ほんらい
  N2

  originally; primarily

• 本物ほんもの
  N4

  genuine article; real thing; real deal

• 本日ほんじつ
  N3

  today; this day

• 本格ほんかく
  N1

  original method; original procedure; genuine way (of doing something)

• 本部ほんぶ
  N2

  headquarters; head office; main office

• 本体ほんたい
  N2

  substance; true form; true character

• 資本しほん
  N3

  funds; capital

• 本社ほんしゃ
  N4

  head office; main office; headquarters; parent company

• 本名ほんみょう
  N1

  real name

• 本番ほんばん
  N2

  performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; take

• 本質ほんしつ
  N1

  essence; true nature; substance; reality

• 根本こんぽん
  N1

  root; source; origin

• 脚本きゃくほん
  N1

  script; screenplay; scenario

• 本音ほんね
  N2

  real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks

• 絵本えほん
  N2

  picture book

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