本


This kanji means book. It is also present in 日本, the land of the rising sun (Japan). It can also mean origin or main or this and is used as a counter for long thin objects.

on readings:
  • hon
kun readings:
  • moto
examples:
本箱 honbako bookcase
本棚 hondana bookshelf
本地垂迹 honji suijaku some kami (but not all) are local manifestations of Buddhist deities
本館 honkan main building
本気 honki seriousness, earnest
本能 honnō instinct
本質 honshitsu essense, substance
本州 Honshū Honshu (one of the 4 main Japanese Islands)
本当 hontou real
基本 kihon basics, fundamentals, standard
豆本 mamehon miniature book, pocket edition
日本橋 Nihonbashi Nihonbashi area of Tokyo
日本風 Nihon-fu Japanese-style
日本側 Nihongawa the Japanese side
日本語 nihongo Japanese
日本中 Nihonjū all over Japan
日本丸 Nihon-maru the ship Nihon
日本紙 Nihonshi Japanese paper
日本史 Nihon shi Japanese history
日本酒 Nihon-shu sake, Japanese rice wine
日本側 Nippongawa the Japanese side
日本中 Nipponjū all over Japan
資本 shihon capital
草本 sōhon herb
手本 tehon model, example, pattern

一本 ippon one (cylindrical object)
二本 nihon two (cylindrical object)
三本 sanbon three (cylindrical object)
四本 yonhon four (cylindrical object)
五本 gohon five (cylindrical object)
八本 happon eight (cylindrical object)
十本 jippon ten (cylindrical object)

links:
Wiktionary
Japanese homepage | top

Last Alteration Performed: 10 April 2026 by Bradley James Wogsland.