本: the kanji for book and origin
本 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means book, origin. Below are its readings, 13 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
本 is written in 5 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
本 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ホン (hon)
On reading. It becomes pon or bon after some numbers.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 本ほん · hon | book |
| 日本にほん · Nihon | Japan |
| 本日ほんじつ · honjitsu | today (formal) |
| 本社ほんしゃ · honsha | head office |
| 本当ほんとう · hontō | true; really |
| 基本きほん · kihon | basics |
| 本物ほんもの · honmono | the real thing |
| 本店ほんてん · honten | main store |
| 本部ほんぶ · honbu | headquarters |
| 資本しほん · shihon | capital (money) |
| 見本みほん · mihon | sample |
| 一本いっぽん · ippon | one (long object) |
| 本気ほんき · honki | serious |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 本社は東京にあります。Honsha wa Tōkyō ni arimasu.The head office is in Tokyo.
- 本日はありがとうございました。Honjitsu wa arigatō gozaimashita.Thank you for today.
- 見本を送っていただけますか。Mihon o okutte itadakemasu ka.Could you send us a sample?
- 基本から説明します。Kihon kara setsumei shimasu.I'll explain from the basics.
- 本当ですか。Hontō desu ka.Really?
- ペンを一本貸してください。Pen o ippon kashite kudasai.Could you lend me a pen?
Questions about 本
How many strokes does 本 have?
本 is written in 5 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 本?
The on readings are hon (ホン). The kun readings are moto (もと).
How do you count long, thin objects in Japanese?
Use 本 (hon), as in ペン一本 (pen ippon, one pen). The sound changes with the number: 一本 (ippon), 二本 (nihon), 三本 (sanbon).
What JLPT level is 本?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Things and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 本
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.