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:

製造業は日本の経済にとって重要な役割を果たしています。

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

The manufacturing industry plays an important role in the economy of Japan.

The manufacturing industry plays an important role in the Japanese economy.

• 製造業 - Manufacturing industry
• は - Topic particle
• 日本の - From Japan
• 経済にとって - For the economy
• 重要な - Important
• 役割を果たしています - Plays a role

製鉄は日本の重要な産業の一つです。

Seitetsu wa Nihon no juuyou na sangyou no hitotsu desu

A produção de aço é uma das indústrias importantes do Japão.

A siderúrgica é uma das indústrias importantes no Japão.

• 製鉄 (せいてつ) - siderurgia
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 (にほん) - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な (じゅうような) - important
• 産業 (さんぎょう) - indústria
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ (ひとつ) - 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"

茶の湯は日本の伝統的な茶道の儀式です。

Chanoyu wa Nihon no dentōteki na sadō no gishiki desu

Chanoyu is a traditional ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Canoyu is a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

• 茶の湯 (Chanoyu) - Tea ceremony
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (Nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - Tradicional
• 茶道 (chadō) - Tea path
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 儀式 (gishiki) - Ceremony, ritual
• です (desu) - Polite way of being/being

自由は人間の基本的な権利です。

Jiyuu wa ningen no kihonteki na kenri desu

A liberdade é um direito fundamental do ser humano.

A liberdade é o direito básico dos humanos.

• 自由 - liberdade
• は - Topic particle
• 人間 - Human being
• の - Possession particle
• 基本的な - básico
• 権利 - direito
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

竹は日本の伝統的な素材です。

Take wa Nihon no dentō-teki na sozai desu

Bamboo is a traditional material in Japan.

Bamboo is a traditional Japanese material.

• 竹 (take) - means "bamboo" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - means "Japan" in Japanese
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - adjective meaning "traditional"
• 素材 (sozai) - means "material" in Japanese
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense

私は努めて日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa tsutomete Nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu

Estou me esforçando para estudar japonês.

Estou trabalhando duro para estudar japonês.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 努めて - verbo que significa "esforçar-se" ou "trabalhar arduamente"
• 日本語 - substantivo que significa "japonês", a língua japonesa
• を - partícula de objeto que indica o objeto direto da ação, neste caso "estudar"
• 勉強しています - verbo composto que significa "estar estudando", no presente contínuo

私は日本語を教わることができますか？

Watashi wa nihongo wo osowaru koto ga dekimasu ka?

Posso ser ensinado em japonês?

Posso aprender japonês?

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 教わる (osowaru) - verb that means "to learn"
• こと (koto) - noun that means "thing"
• が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• できますか (dekimasu ka) - expressão que significa "é possível?" ou "você pode?"

私の本名は山田太郎です。

Watashi no honmyou wa Yamada Taro desu

My real name is Yamada Taro.

My real name is Taro Yamada.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 本名 (honmyou) - It means "real name" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 山田太郎 (Yamada Taro) - proper name in Japanese, composed of surname (Yamada) and given name (Taro)
• です (desu) - the verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate identity or characteristics

私は明日新しい本を買います。

Watashi wa ashita atarashii hon wo kaimasu

I'm going to buy a new book tomorrow.

I'm going to buy a new book tomorrow.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "me"
• 明日 (ashita) - means "tomorrow" in Japanese
• 新しい (atarashii) - means "new" in Japanese
• 本 (hon) - means "book" in Japanese
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, indicates that "book" is the direct object of the sentence
• 買います (kaimasu) - means "to buy" in Japanese, and is the verb in the sentence

私は本を机から棚に移した。

Watashi wa hon o tsukue kara tana ni utsushita

I moved the table book for the shelf.

I changed the table book to the shelf.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 本 (hon) - noun meaning "book"
• を (wo) - direct object particle, used to indicate the object of the action
• 机 (tsukue) - noun that means "table"
• から (kara) - particle that indicates the origin or starting point of the action
• 棚 (tana) - shelf
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination or endpoint of the action
• 移した (utsushita) - transitive verb in the past, meaning "to move" or "to transfer"