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What is the Kanji for 'Book' and 'Origin'? | 本

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Book' and 'Origin', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Book' and 'Origin' is 本.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Book, Origin

    Reading

    kunyomiもと

    moto

    onyomiほん

    hon

    Parts

    Tree, Wood One

    Example Word

    本気: serious. The Japanese adjectival noun '本気 (ほんき)' means 'serious'. It is used to describe a genuine, earnest, or sincere attitude or state of mind. It often implies a lack of joking or superficiality. For example: He is serious about his studies「彼は勉強に本気です」(かれはべんきょうにほんきです). Are you serious?「本気ですか?」(ほんきですか?). It can also describe actions or situations that are done with full effort or commitment, such as '本気で頑張る (ほんきでがんばる) (to seriously try hard)'.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    5

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    36

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    Meaning

    One

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 2 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Body

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bowl

Words Using

This kanji is used in 36 words:

    word

    日本

    Meaning

    Japan

    word

    Meaning

    Book

    word

    本当

    Meaning

    Truth

    word

    本当に

    Meaning

    Really

    word

    基本

    Meaning

    Basis

    word

    本屋

    Meaning

    Bookstore

    word

    資本

    Meaning

    Capital

    word

    本人

    Meaning

    Person

    word

    本棚

    Meaning

    Bookshelf

    word

    本箱

    Meaning

    Bookshelf

    word

    本質

    Meaning

    Essence

    word

    本書

    Meaning

    This book

    word

    本の

    Meaning

    Mere

    word

    本部

    Meaning

    Headquarters

    word

    根本

    Meaning

    Root, Basis

    word

    本物

    Meaning

    Real, Genuine

    word

    本格

    Meaning

    Genuine

    word

    資本主義

    Meaning

    Capitalism

    word

    本社

    Meaning

    Headquarters

    word

    本能

    Meaning

    Instinct

    word

    本来

    Meaning

    Originally

    word

    本年

    Meaning

    This year

    word

    本日

    Meaning

    Today

    word

    手本

    Meaning

    Example, Model

    word

    本気

    Meaning

    Serious

    word

    見本

    Meaning

    Example, Sample

    word

    本国

    Meaning

    Home country

    word

    本店

    Meaning

    Main store

    word

    古本

    Meaning

    Used book

    word

    本文

    Meaning

    Main text

    word

    本音

    Meaning

    True feelings

    word

    本格的

    Meaning

    Genuine

    word

    日本酒

    Meaning

    Sake

    word

    本願

    Meaning

    Vow

    word

    絵本

    Meaning

    Picture book

    word

    本体

    Meaning

    Main body

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 96 kanji contain the part 木 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Grove

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rest

    kanji

    Meaning

    School

    kanji

    Meaning

    Village

    kanji

    Meaning

    Forest

    kanji

    Meaning

    Parent

    kanji

    Meaning

    East

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tea

    kanji

    Meaning

    Music, Pleasure

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ride

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sideways

    kanji

    Meaning

    Desk, Table

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bundle, Bind

    kanji

    Meaning

    Machine, Opportunity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plan, Proposal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mutual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gather

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bridge

    kanji

    Meaning

    Trouble, Distress

    kanji

    Meaning

    Not yet

    kanji

    Meaning

    End

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fruit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Contraption

    kanji

    Meaning

    Kill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Frame

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bed, Floor

    kanji

    Meaning

    Status

    kanji

    Meaning

    Way, Form

    kanji

    Meaning

    Materials, Timber

    kanji

    Meaning

    Investigate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Examine

    kanji

    Meaning

    Clause

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dye

    kanji

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Extreme, Pole

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rights, Authority

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plant

    kanji

    Meaning

    Flat, Counter

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shares, Stocks

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cup, Cupfuls

    kanji

    Meaning

    Signpost, Mark

    kanji

    Meaning

    Structure, Care

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pillar

    kanji

    Meaning

    In general, Approximation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prosper, Flourish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Imitation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tag, Bill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cherry

    kanji

    Meaning

    Root

    kanji

    Meaning

    Board

    kanji

    Meaning

    Chop, Analyze

    kanji

    Meaning

    Nucleus

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pole, Bar

    kanji

    Meaning

    Design, Handle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Branch

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pine

    kanji

    Meaning

    Apricot, Plum

    kanji

    Meaning

    Peach

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soft, Gentle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shelf

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wither

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scaffold, Plank bridge

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cedar, Cryptomeria

    kanji

    Meaning

    Block, Ridgepole

    kanji

    Meaning

    Column

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vat, Tank

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plug, Stopper

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pivot, Hinge

    kanji

    Meaning

    Coffin, Casket

    kanji

    Meaning

    Oriental chess, Chess piece

    kanji

    Meaning

    Crude, Simple

    kanji

    Meaning

    Abandon, Renounce

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rot, Decay

    kanji

    Meaning

    A certain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Calendar, Almanac

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plant, Planting

    kanji

    Meaning

    Quiet, Leisure

    kanji

    Meaning

    Willow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    Meaning

    Watchtower, Tall building

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shelf, Build across

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mulberry

    kanji

    Meaning

    Horse chestnut

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pillow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gloom

    kanji

    Meaning

    Chair

    kanji

    Meaning

    Temple

    kanji

    Meaning

    Square character style, Correctness

    kanji

    Meaning

    Grab

    kanji

    Meaning

    Oak tree, Oak

    kanji

    Meaning

    Persimmon

    kanji

    Meaning

    Palisade

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spiny

    kanji

    Meaning

    Girder

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 53 kanji contain the part 一 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Three

    kanji

    Meaning

    Seven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hundred

    kanji

    Meaning

    Up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Big

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heaven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Insect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    Meaning

    Child

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mouth

    kanji

    Meaning

    Correct

    kanji

    Meaning

    King

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Light

    kanji

    Meaning

    Same

    kanji

    Meaning

    Now

    kanji

    西

    Meaning

    West

    kanji

    Meaning

    Door

    kanji

    Meaning

    Picture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Construction

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bird

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yellow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Come

    kanji

    Meaning

    Go

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fit, Match

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cold

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    Meaning

    Street

    kanji

    Meaning

    Both

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beans

    kanji

    Meaning

    Precious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Worship

    kanji

    Meaning

    Use, Dispatch

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mutual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Again, Twice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Arrive, Climax

    kanji

    Meaning

    Military

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beast, Animal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spirits

    kanji

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Third, Third class

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 本 mean?

本 means 'Book' and 'Origin'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in First Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.