本
book, origin
JLPT N5 Grade 1 5 strokes
- Kun'yomi
- もと
- On'yomi
- ホン
- Radical
- 木 · tree (tree, wood)
本 means "book, origin". It is a JLPT N5 kanji written in 5 strokes. It is read もと in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ホン in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 1.
Example word
日本
Japan
本 in example sentences
-
Honki da yo.
I mean it!
-
この本です。
Kono hon desu.
It's this book.
-
Honki desu ka.
Are you serious?
Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.
Stroke order & writing
Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.
Words that use 本
- 〜本 counter for long objects
- 本屋 bookstore
- 日本語 Japanese language
- 本 book
- 本棚 bookshelf
- 本当に really
- 本人 the person in question, oneself
- 本音 true feelings
- 見本 sample, specimen
- 本店 main store
- 本業 main occupation
- 本質 essence, true nature
- 本来 originally, essentially
- 本筋 main thread, point
- 本質的 essential
- 根本的 fundamental
- 基本的 basic, fundamental
- 基本的に basically
More 木 (tree) kanji
Common questions
- What does the kanji 本 mean?
- 本 means "book, origin". It is a JLPT N5 kanji.
- How many strokes does 本 have?
- 本 is written in 5 strokes.
- How is 本 read?
- It is read もと in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ホン in compounds (on'yomi).
- What JLPT level is 本?
- 本 is a JLPT N5 kanji.