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本
Character learning workspace

běn · root, origin, source

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1Frequency #222
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 本

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 本 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

本
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

5Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

木Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 本 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 本

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

běnWords pronounced běn
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 本 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ de shū shì zhè běn hái shì nà běn?你的书是这本还是那本？

Which book is yours, this one or that one?

Source: Tatoeba #1964452 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè běn bǐ jì běn bú shì nǐ de, shì tā de.这本笔记本不是你的，是他的。

The notebook is not yours. It's his.

Source: Tatoeba #10707389 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ běn lái xiǎng zǒu de, dàn hòu lái wàng le.我本来想走的，但后来忘了。

I intended to go, but forgot to.

Source: Tatoeba #4264664 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì zhōng guó rén hái shì rì běn rén?你是中国人还是日本人？

Are you Chinese or Japanese?

Source: Tatoeba #335140 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè běn shū bú shì wǒ de.这本书不是我的。

This book isn't mine.

Source: Tatoeba #763414 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ běn bù gāi bǎ rén mài le de.你本不该把人卖了的。

You shouldn't have sold this to someone.

Source: Tatoeba #805011 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 本 in context

  1. Say běn, then recall the core meaning: root, origin, source.
  2. Write all 5 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 本子 (běn zi), meaning “book”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 本 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.