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

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

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:

日本の通貨は円です。

Nihon no tsūka wa en desu

Japan's currency is the yen.

The Japanese currency is a circle.

• 日本の - "from Japan"
• 通貨 - "moeda"
• は - Topic particle
• 円 - "iene"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

憲法は国家の基本法である。

Kenpou wa kokka no kihonhou de aru

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the State.

The Constitution is a basic national law.

• 憲法 - Constitution
• は - Topic particle
• 国家 - state
• の - Possession particle
• 基本法 - fundamental law
• である - is

彼女の日本語能力は高い程度だ。

Kanojo no nihongo nouryoku wa takai teido da

Your proficiency in the Japanese language is at a high level.

Your Japanese skill is high.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - She
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 日本語 (nihongo) - Japanese language
• 能力 (nouryoku) - Skill, capacity
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 高い (takai) - High
• 程度 (teido) - Grade, level
• だ (da) - Informal form of the verb ser

工業は日本の経済にとって重要な役割を果たしています。

Kōgyō wa Nihon no keizai ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Industry plays an important role in the economy of Japan.

Industry plays an important role in the Japanese economy.

• 工業 (kougyou) - industry
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 日本 (nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 経済 (keizai) - economy
• にとって (nitotte) - for
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - paper
• を果たしています (wo hatashiteimasu) - performs

売買は商売の基本です。

Baibai wa shōbai no kihon desu

Buying and selling is the basis of business.

Buying and selling is the basis of business.

• 売買 - buying and selling
• 商売 - Business, Trade
• 基本 - Base, foundation

助詞は日本語の文法に欠かせない要素です。

Joshi wa nihongo no bunpou ni kakasenai youso desu

Particles are an essential element in Japanese grammar.

Athletic is an indispensable factor in Japanese grammar.

• 助詞 (joshi) - particle
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 日本語 (nihongo) - Japanese language
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 文法 (bunpou) - grammar
• に (ni) - Location particle
• 欠かせない (kakasenai) - indispensable
• 要素 (yousou) - element
• です (desu) - Verb "to be"

割り算は数学の基本的な計算方法です。

Warizan wa suugaku no kihonteki na keisan houhou desu

Division is a basic calculation method in mathematics.

Division is the basic calculation method in mathematics.

• 割り算 - It means "division" in Japanese.
• は - It is a TOPIC1TICLE particle indicating that "divisão" is the subject of the sentence.
• 数学 - It means "mathematics" in Japanese.
• の - It is a possessive particle indicating that "mathematics" is the owner of "division".
• 基本的な - It means "basic" or "fundamental" in Japanese.
• 計算方法 - means "calculation method" in Japanese.
• です - It is a closing partic1E31Cle that indicates that the sentence is complete and formal.

作物は農業の基本的な要素です。

Sakumotsu wa nōgyō no kihonteki na yōso desu

Crops are basic elements of agriculture.

Crops are the basic elements of agriculture.

• 作物 - cultivation
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• の - Possessive particle
• 基本的 - Basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 要素 - Element
• です - Verb to be/estar

仮名遣いは日本語の重要な要素です。

Kanazukai wa nihongo no juuyou na youso desu

Japanese spelling is an important element of the Japanese language.

The passive noun is an important factor in Japanese.

• 仮名遣い (kana-yomi) - the Japanese writing system that uses syllabic characters (hiragana and katakana) to represent sounds and ideograms (kanji) to represent words
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - Japanese language
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 要素 (yousou) - element, component
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

その本は其れが好きです。

sono hon wa sore ga suki desu

I like that book.

I like this book.

• その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 本 - noun meaning "book"
• は - topic particle that indicates that "this book" is the subject of the sentence
• 其れ - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• が - subject particle that indicates that "this" is the subject of the sentence
• 好き - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence