Spot 本
Find the repeated shape and notice where it sits before trying to memorize the whole character.
Visual pattern
本 component
běn · root, origin, source; basis
A recurring visual building block found inside multiple Chinese characters. Compare what stays the same and what changes across the family.
A repeatable reading move
How to use 本
Use the component as a clue, then verify the complete character.
Compare the visual pattern
Use the stable shape to recognize the family, without assuming it always supplies meaning or sound.
Check what changes
Read the remaining component, then confirm the full pinyin, meaning, and stroke order on the character page.
Shared clue本Visual pattern
Read the pattern before memorizing the list
Use the shared shape as a recognition anchor, then confirm the full character's pronunciation and meaning.
The component page is a learning family; the radical page is a dictionary index. A shape can serve both roles.
Compare the family
What stays the same, what changes?
Each card keeps 本 visible while showing the other building blocks and the completed character.
笨=
⺮
体=
亻
苯=
艹
钵=
钅
缽=
缶
Move into vocabulary
Words you can read next
These words contain characters from the 本 family. Open one to see its complete breakdown.
身体shēntǐ
the body
HSK 3.0 · L2体育tǐyùsports
HSK 3.0 · L3体育馆tǐyùguǎngym
HSK 3.0 · L3笨bènstupid
HSK 3.0 · L4体检tǐjiǎnabbr. for 體格檢查|体格检查[ti3 ge2 jian3 cha2]
HSK 3.0 · L4体温tǐwēnChinese character
HSK 3.0 · L4体重tǐzhòngbody weight
HSK 3.0 · L4集体jítǐcollective
HSK 3.0 · L5具体jùtǐconcrete
HSK 3.0 · L5媒体méitǐmedia, esp. news media
HSK 3.0 · L5全体quántǐall
HSK 3.0 · L5群体qúntǐcommunity
HSK 3.0 · L5