book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
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.
Japan
book; volume; script
really; truly
basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation
truth; reality; actuality; fact
Japanese person
Japanese (language)
the person in question; the person themselves; said person
seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity
originally; primarily
genuine article; real thing; real deal
today; this day
original method; original procedure; genuine way (of doing something)
headquarters; head office; main office
substance; true form; true character
funds; capital
head office; main office; headquarters; parent company
real name
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; take
essence; true nature; substance; reality
root; source; origin
script; screenplay; scenario
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
picture book
本 is derived from 木 (tree) with an added stroke at the base to indicate the root. This root meaning extended to origin, source, and fundamental things.
Picture a tree 木 with a short line marking its root. That root is the origin, the main part, and the true foundation—just like a book is a source of knowledge.
For ホン, imagine a book so fundamental it's called the 'hon' (as in 'honcho' or 'honest'), the real deal: hon -> ホン.