Translation and Meaning of: 本 - hon

The Japanese word 「本」 (hon) is a multifaceted expression that carries different meanings depending on the context, although it is generally known as "book" in the Japanese language. The reading "hon" applies when the character is used to describe objects such as books, or to measure cylindrical and long things, like bottles or pencils. The versatility of the word makes it an essential component in both the everyday and cultural aspects of the Japanese language.

Etymologically, 「本」 is composed of two main components in Kanji. The upper part, which resembles a cross, traditionally represents the idea of division or a certain point. The lower part, which looks like a horizontal line, denotes base or essence. Thus, the combination of these elements suggests the essence or origin of something. Historically, this connects to the notion of "book" as a foundation of knowledge or information.

The use of 「本」 is not limited to reading materials. In Japanese, the word extends to the act of counting, as in "ippon" (一本), which means "one long object." This illustrates how the concept of essence or base applies in various contexts in Japanese culture, showing the importance and flexibility of 「本」 in the language. Furthermore, the same word is found in expressions like "nihon" (日本), indicating "Japan," once again highlighting how this kanji permeates the language with a profound meaning of foundation and origin.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 書籍 (shoseki) - Books, publications
• 書物 (shomotsu) - Books, literary works
• 本文 (honbun) - Main text, content
• 本書 (honsho) - This book, this work
• 本著 (honcho) - This work, this job
• 本作 (honsaku) - This work, this (job) created
• 本格 (honkaku) - Authentic, genuine, complete
• 本日 (honjitsu) - Today, the current day
• 本年 (honnnen) - This year, the current year
• 本屋 (honya) - Bookstore, book shop
• 本棚 (hondana) - Bookshelf
• 本体 (hontai) - Body (of an object), real part
• 本質 (honshitsu) - Essence, true nature
• 本題 (hondai) - Main subject, central topic
• 本場 (honba) - Local original, authentic local
• 本店 (honten) - Main store, original branch
• 本社 (honsha) - Headquarters, parent company
• 本部 (honbu) - Main department, central section
• 本格的 (honkakuteki) - Authentic, in full style
• 本格派 (honkakuhai) - Authentic style, traditional format

本

Romaji: hon
Kana: ほん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: book; main; boss; This one; our; counter for long cylindrical things

Meaning in English: book;main;head;this;our;counter for long cylindrical things

Definition: A collection of printed material on paper or papers. Used for reading and research.

Example Sentences - (本) hon

See below some example sentences:

投票は民主主義の基本です。

Touhyou wa minshu shugi no kihon desu

Voting is fundamental to democracy.

Voting is the foundation of democracy.

• 投票 (touhyou) - vote
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 民主主義 (minshu shugi) - democracy
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 基本 (kihon) - Base, foundation
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

掛け算は算数の基本的な四則演算の一つです。

Kakezan wa sansū no kihonteki na shisoku enzan no hitotsu desu

Calculus is one of the four basic arithmetic operations of arithmetic.

• 掛け算 - multiplication
• は - Topic particle
• 算数 - arithmetic
• の - Possession particle
• 基本的 - basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 四則演算 - basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

文字は日本語の基本的な要素です。

Mojiretsu wa Nihongo no kihonteki na youso desu

The characters are the basic elements of the Japanese.

• 文字 (moji) - characters
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - Japanese language
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 基本的 (kihonteki) - basic, fundamental
• な (na) - Particle indicating adjective
• 要素 (yōso) - element, component
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

日の丸は日本の国旗です。

Nihon no maru wa Nihon no kokki desu

Hinomaru is a Japanese flag.

• 日の丸 - rising sun flag
• は - Topic marking particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 国旗 - National flag
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

日本の酒はとても美味しいです。

Nihon no sake wa totemo oishii desu

Japanese sake is very delicious.

• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 酒 - alcoholic beverage, sake
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 美味しい - delicious
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

日本の首相は安倍晋三です。

O primeiro

Minister of Japan is Shinzo Abe

The Japanese Prime Minister is Shinzo Abe.

• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 首相 - Prime Minister
• は - Topic particle
• 安倍晋三 - Shinzo Abe (name of the current Japanese Prime Minister)
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

日本の領海は広いです。

Nihon no ryōkai wa hiroi desu

The territorial waters in Japan are wide.

• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 領海 - territorial waters
• は - Topic particle
• 広い - broad, wide
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

日本の経済が没落する可能性がある。

Nihon no keizai ga bottsuroku suru kanousei ga aru

The Japanese economy may fall.

• 日本 - Country name
• の - Possession particle
• 経済 - economy
• が - subject particle
• 没落する - decline, collapse
• 可能性 - possibility
• が - subject particle
• ある - verb "to exist"

日本とブラジルの国交は長い歴史があります。

Nihon to Burajiru no kokkou wa nagai rekishi ga arimasu

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil have a long history.

• 日本 - Japan
• と - I'm sorry, but I need a text or string to translate from Portuguese to English. Please provide the content you'd like me to work on.
• ブラジル - Brazil
• の - of
• 国交 - diplomatic relations
• は - are
• 長い - longas
• 歴史 - history
• が - have
• あります - existed

日本の民族は多様性に富んでいます。

Nihon no minzoku wa tayousei ni yondete imasu

The Japanese are diversity.

• 日本の民族 - Japanese people
• は - Topic particle
• 多様性 - Diversity
• に - connecting particle
• 富んでいます - Being rich in