本 Stroke Order — How to Write 本
本 is written in 5 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 木, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
本 Radical and Character Components
本 is an ideographic compound. A tree 木 with its roots highlighted.
Radical: 木 + 1 more stroke
本 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- běn
Meanings of 本 in Chinese
1
běn本
The root of a plant; origin; foundation. Often used in compounds referring to traditional herbal medicine (e.g., 本草, traditional Chinese materia medica) or fundamental aspects.
这味药的药效，源于它的本草属性。
The medicinal efficacy of this herb stems from its fundamental herbal properties.
the root or origin of things; fundamental; basic, as opposed to the superficial or secondary aspects.
解决问题要从根本上入手。
To solve a problem, one must address it fundamentally.
The stalk or stem of a plant, or the trunk of a tree; commonly used in terms like 'herbaceous plants' to refer to the main body.
许多蔬菜都属于草本植物，它们的本通常比较柔软。
Many vegetables are herbaceous plants; their stalks are usually relatively soft.
Main, central, or principal; referring to one's own entity (e.g., company, department).
这是本公司最新发布的产品。
This is the latest product released by our company.
Original; inherent ability or skill; the source or root of something.
他很有本领，什么都学得很快。
He is very capable; he learns everything quickly.
Referring to oneself or one's own side; intrinsic, original.
每个人都应该做好自己的本分。
Everyone should do their own part.
Common Words and Phrases with 本
1
2
3
To keep to one's duties and not overstep boundaries; to act properly and within one's place.
小张在公司里一直本本分分地工作，深得领导的信任。
Xiao Zhang has always worked diligently and honestly in the company, earning the deep trust of his leaders.
4
Dogmatism or book worship, characterized by blindly following written rules or instructions without considering actual circumstances.
我们不能一味地搞本本主义，要根据实际情况灵活调整工作方案，才能真正解决问题。
We cannot blindly practice dogmatism; we must flexibly adjust our work plans according to actual circumstances to truly solve problems.
5
headquarters; this department/ministry
公司的本部设在市中心，交通便利。
The company's headquarters is located in the city center, offering convenient transportation.
6
This locality or city, often referring to the place where one is currently located, especially in the context of larger towns or cities.
本埠的交通状况在高峰时段总是很拥堵。
The traffic conditions in this city are always congested during peak hours.
7
Herbal medicine or materia medica, often referring to a compendium of traditional Chinese medicinal substances.
很多传统中药的药效都记录在古老的本草书籍中。
The efficacy of many traditional Chinese medicines is recorded in ancient Materia Medica texts.
8
The Compendium of Materia Medica (Běncǎo Gāngmù) is a monumental Chinese pharmacopoeia compiled by Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty. This extensive work systematically details 1,892 medicinal substances and over 10,000 prescriptions, making it a foundational text in traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely translated and recognized internationally.
许多中医药研究者都将《本草纲目》视为探索传统药材知识的重要经典。
Many researchers of traditional Chinese medicine consider "Bencao Gangmu" an important classic for exploring knowledge of traditional medicinal materials.
9
the current dynasty
本朝的画师们创作了许多精美的山水画。
The painters of this dynasty created many exquisite landscape paintings.
10
Background level, typically referring to the stable level of radiation or sound in an environment against which other measurements are made.
在进行环境噪声监测时，我们首先要测定区域的本底噪声水平，以便准确评估新的声源影响。
When conducting environmental noise monitoring, we must first determine the background noise level of the area to accurately assess the impact of new sound sources.
11
local
这家商店只出售本地农场生产的新鲜水果和蔬菜。
This store only sells fresh fruits and vegetables produced by local farms.
12
A local person or a native.
这位导游对这里的历史和文化非常熟悉，因为他是地道的本地人。
This tour guide is very familiar with the history and culture here, because he is a genuine local.
13
One's duty or obligation; what one is expected to do within one's proper role or bounds.
学生的首要本分是学习，而不是沉迷于玩乐。
A student's primary duty is to study, not to indulge in excessive recreation.
14
should have; ought to have (but didn't)
我本该早点出门，结果迟到了
I should have left earlier, but I ended up being late.
15
trunk
这棵老树的本干粗壮，枝叶茂盛，为过路人提供阴凉。
The main trunk of this old tree is thick and its foliage is lush, providing shade for passersby.
16
A firm foundation leads to flourishing branches; metaphorically, a strong basis ensures the prosperity and development of the whole.
公司始终注重技术研发，因为他们深知只有核心技术本固枝荣，产品才能立于不败之地。
The company always focuses on technological research and development, because they deeply understand that only when the core technology is robust and flourishing can the products remain invincible.
More words with 本
- bán版běn本version, edition
- jù剧běn本script, screenplay
- kè课běn本textbook
- yàng样běn本sample
- zhàng账běn本An account book.
- zhì治běn本treat the root cause, address the root cause
- bǎo保běn本break even
- biāo标běn本specimen, sample
- cán残běn本incomplete book
- chàng唱běn本libretto
- dǐ底běn本source text, base edition
- dǔ赌běn本money to gamble with
- fàn范běn本template, model
- fù复běn本a duplicate copy; a replica
- fù副běn本copy, duplicate
- gǎo稿běn本manuscript, draft
- gǎo藁běn本Chinese Ligusticum Rhizome, Gao Ben
- gē歌běn本songbook
- gōng工běn本cost of production
- gǔ股běn本share capital, stock capital
Idioms with 本
- běn本běn本yuán源yuán源the whole story from its origins
- běn本gù固bāng邦níng宁A stable society comes from content people
- běn本lái来miàn面mù目true colors
- běn本mò末dào倒zhì置put the cart before the horse
- běn本mò末yuán源liú流the whole story from start to finish
- běn本shèng盛mò末róng荣Strong roots, flourishing branches
- běn本tóng同mò末yì异same origin, different outcomes
- běn本wèi位zhǔ主yì义departmental or unit self-interest
- běn本xiāng乡běn本tǔ土one's native place or hometown
- běn本xiǎo小lì利wēi微small capital, meager profit
- běn本xìng性nán难yí移inherent nature is hard to change
- bá拔běn本sè塞yuán源eliminate a problem by destroying its root cause
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Open the tool →Questions about 本
What does 本 mean in Chinese?
本 (běn) means “The root of a plant” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 本?
本 is pronounced běn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 本 have?
本 has 5 strokes.
How do you write 本?
本 is written in 5 strokes, starting from the radical 木. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 本?
The radical of 本 is 木, and 本 is an ideographic compound.