Chinese–EnglishWith examples

本

běn · ben

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 1Measure word guide

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. (bound form) root; stem
  2. (bound form) origin; source
  3. (bound form) one's own; this
  4. (bound form) this; the current (year etc)
  5. (bound form) original
  6. (bound form) inherent
  7. originally; initially
  8. capital; principal
  9. classifier for books, periodicals, files etc
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Books this month

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)这个(zhège)月(yuè)看了(kànle)几本(jǐběn)书(shū)？

    How many books did you read this month?

  2. Dengdeng

    三本(sānběn)。你(nǐ)呢(ne)？

    Three. And you?

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)在(zài)看(kàn)一本(yīběn)，可是(kěshì)很(hěn)厚(hòu)。

    I am reading one, but it is very thick.

  4. Dengdeng

    哪一本(nǎyīběn)？

    Which one?

  5. Liangliang

    这本(zhèběn)，我(wǒ)看了(kànle)一个(yīgè)月(yuè)，才(cái)看到(kàndào)第十页(dìshíyè)。

    This one. I have been reading it for a month and I am only on page ten.

  6. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)是(shì)在(zài)看书(kànshū)，还是(háishi)看(kàn)手机(shǒujī)？

    Do you read it, or do you look at your phone?

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

这(zhè)是(shì)本(běn)有(yǒu)教(jiào)育(yù)意(yì)义(yì)的(de)书(shū)。

This is an instructive book.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Wakano · English by Wakano · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

汤(tāng)姆(mǔ)本(běn)可(kě)以(yǐ)用(yòng)更(gèng)好(hǎo)的(de)方(fāng)式(shì)处(chǔ)理(lǐ)问(wèn)题(tí)。

Tom could have dealt with the problem in a better way.

Tatoeba: Chinese by slo_oth · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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