Origins and main things with 本
The kanji 本 has the core meanings of root, origin, and main. Its readings are ホン and もと.
Etymology
This kanji is an ideogram built from 木 (tree) with an extra mark at the bottom to indicate the root.
Etymology Research
Kanjipedia’s account from Kadokawa’s Shinjigen classifies 本 as 指事, a graph that indicates a meaning by marking a location. The added line has a pointing function, so this analysis does not assign it a phonetic role. Kanjipedia
The Chinese University of Hong Kong agrees on the original meaning, the root of a plant. Its quoted Shuowen entry records 楍 as an old form. The database displays small-seal and bamboo or silk manuscript forms, but its 本 entry supplies no oracle-bone or bronze examples. This is a limit of the entry, not evidence that the character was absent from those periods. CUHK, Multi-function Chinese Character Database
CUHK cites plant roots in the Lüshi Chunqiu, a tree trunk in the Zhuangzi, and a root cause in the Guoyu. It also records a draft manuscript sense in the Nanshi. These textual examples show physical and abstract uses; they do not date every transition or prove a complete route to the modern Japanese word for a book. CUHK
Book
本 (Book)
本 is a book.
Example 1 of 2: Might have similar tastes with 〜かもしれない
At the library, Cocoa thinks she’s realized which book Chino is trying to find but forgot the title of.
- ココア:
- 「今まで気付かなかったけど」
- “I didn't notice until now, but...”
- 「私本の趣味合うのかもしれないねっ」
- “...maybe we have similar taste in books.”
Example 2 of 2: Covered in books with 〜だらけ
Upon hearing Usami say she’s stopping by the school library, Uchimaki says he wants to go with, and Colette tags along.
- 内巻:
- 「本だらけだ！！」
- “It's nothing but books!!”
- コレット:
- 「本屋さんみたいだ！！」
- “It's like a book store!!”
- 宇佐美:
- 「２人とも静かにしなさい」
- “Quiet down, you two.”
本屋 (Bookstore)
本屋 is a shop that sells books.
It combines 本 (book) with 屋 (shop) to show a shop for books.
Upon hearing Usami say she’s stopping by the school library, Uchimaki says he wants to go with, and Colette tags along.
- 内巻:
- 「本だらけだ！！」
- “It's nothing but books!!”
- コレット:
- 「本屋さんみたいだ！！」
- “It's like a book store!!”
- 宇佐美:
- 「２人とも静かにしなさい」
- “Quiet down, you two.”
Genuine
本当 (Truth)
本当 is the truth, as opposed to a lie or a joke. ほんとう？ asks “really?”
It combines 本 (true origin) with 当 (right / fitting) to show what is truly right.
Example 1 of 3: Chinese history lesson on talismans with 中国
Sakura had to take a detour to get to class. She tells her friends at school about the shrine she saw along the way. Naoko says the talismans from there are popular, as they can grant wishes for things such as exams and romance.
- 山崎:
- 「お守りっていうのはね むかし 中国で守り札を袋にいれたのがはじまりらしいよ」
- “You know, apparently good-luck charms began long ago in China, when people put protective talismans into bags.”
- 奈緒子:
- 「今回は本当っぽいね」
- “This time it sounds true, huh?”
- 千春:
- 「まだ わかんないわよ」
- “We don't know that yet!”
Example 2 of 3: Don't say it with 〜てはだめだ
Syaro gives a vague account of her first meeting Rize, as the truth is too embarassing for her. Cocoa listens to Syaro’s words and misunderstands the event.
- リゼ:
- 「ちがうちがう本当はー」
- “No, no. What really happened was...”
- シャロ:
- 「あっ言っちゃだめです！」
- “Ah, don't say it!”
Example 3 of 3: Keeping my dad company with 相手
Akari encounters an older gentleman looking for a police box, so he can report his missing daughter and son-in-law. Akari offers to take him around and see if they can find the couple. Once they are reunited, the daughter thanks Akari for finding her father.
- 娘:
- 「迷子になった父の相手をするの大変でしたでしょ？」
- “It must have been tough dealing with my dad when he got lost, right?”
- 「本当ガンコおやじで…」
- “He really is a stubborn old man...”
- 父さん:
- 「迷子と言うなっ」
- “Don't say lost!”
- 「うるさい」
- “Annoying...”
本物 (Real thing)
本物 is the real or genuine thing, not a copy or fake.
It combines 本 (real / original) with 物 (thing) to show the genuine thing.
Chiya and Syaro unexpectedly have to stay the night at Chino’s home.
- シャロ:
- 「チノちゃんにパジャマ借りたのはいいけどちょっとかわいすぎない？」
- “Borrowing pajamas from Chino-chan is fine, but aren't they a little too cute?”
- 「いつもはジャージなのに」
- “Even though I usually wear a tracksuit.”
- 千夜:
- 「本物のお嬢様みたい♪」
- “You look like a real young lady♪”
本日 (Today)
本日 is a formal word for today, common in announcements and customer service.
It combines 本 (this / present / main) with 日 (day) to show the present day.
Example 1 of 2: Coming all the way up here in the mountains with 足を運ぶ
A large gathering takes place in a mansion deep in the mountains, in celebration of Reika, daughter of the head of Yotsui Group. After Reika blows out the candles on her birthday cake, her father congratulates her on turning 24, then he turns and addresses their guests.
- 四井:
- 「本日は娘のためにわざわざこんな山奥まで足を運んでいただき、感謝の念にたえません！！」
- “I can't thank you enough for coming all the way up here in the mountains today for my daughter!”
- 「今後も娘共々、我が四井グループを
どうぞ よろしく！！」 - “Please continue to be favorable to both my daughter and my Yotsui Group in the future!”
Example 2 of 2: Thank you for inviting me with お招きいただきありがとうございました
As part of their training, Akari, Aika, and Alice host a Festa del Redentore dinner. After, the guests gather before them.
- アリシア:
- 「本日は宴にお招きいただきありがとうございました」
- “Thank you for inviting me to the party today.”
- 「３人のおかげでとても楽しい…レデントーレが過ごせました」
- “Thanks to the three of you, I had a really fun time at the *Redentore*.”
本当に (Really)
本当に stresses that something is truly the case or that a feeling is sincere, as in 本当にありがとう.
It combines 本当 (truth) with に (adverb ending) to show truly.
Example 1 of 2: Only for a little bit with 〜だけ
While waiting for his brother, Akatsuki finds Akari. He decides to pass the time by having Akari give him a tour of the area, but she explains that as a trainee she can’t take on customers by herself. Akatsuki hops into Akari’s gondola, saying it’s okay as long as he’s not a customer; he’s a friend.
- 灯里:
- 「本当にちょっとだけですよー」
- “It's really just a little bit!”
Example 2 of 2: Thank you for always being by side with 本当にありがとう
Due to a condition where she loses all memories of friends every Monday morning, Fujimiya acts cold toward classmates to avoid becoming friends. While eating lunch on the roof with Hase, she remarks how hard it is to act that way. Hase says it’s because she’s naturally a nice person. He recalls when he first tried becoming friends with her, how Fujimiya avoided eye contact with him and gave only brief responses. Fujimiya is shocked to hear how she had treated him.
- 藤宮:
- 「でもそんな私なのに長谷くんはいつもそばにいてくれるんだよね」
- “But even though I was like that, Hase-kun, you're always by my side, aren't you?”
- 「本当にありがとう」
- “Thank you, really.”
Foundation
基本 (Basics)
基本 is the basic part that everything else is built on.
It combines 基 (foundation) with 本 (main / origin) to show the main foundation.
During a training session, Tsubaki quickly subdues Asagao. Sazanka uses this opportunity to launch a surprise attack, only for Tsubaki to anticipate it and take her down as well.
- ツバキ:
- 「不意をつくばかりじゃダメです。」
- “You can't rely just on surprise attacks.”
- 「基本があるからこそ奇襲が活きるんです。」
- “It's precisely from having fundamentals that surprise attacks become effective.”
- サザンカ:
- 「はい…」
- “Yeah...”
本能 (Instinct)
本能 means instinct, an inborn impulse that drives behavior without conscious thought or learning.
It combines 本 (origin) with 能 (ability) to show innate capability.
Yui and her friends are in their secret base when a pigeon flies in and lands on the table between them. The group’s cat, Colonel Monochrome, leaps after it, but the pigeon escapes.
- 結衣:
- 「ビックリしたー」
- “That surprised me!”
- 琴葉:
- 「大佐が本能をむき出しにしたな」
- “The Colonel laid bare his instincts.”
本部 (Headquarters)
本部 means the headquarters or central governing office of an organization.
It combines 本 (main) with 部 (department) to show the main department.
Akari encounters Woody while he’s out on a delivery run. He stopped to show off for some kids, but in the process, he seems to have lost his city map, and he has a terrible sense of direction. Akari asks if he has the delivery addresses, which he says he does.
- ウッディー:
- 「でも 本部まで地図を取りに戻る時間がないのだぁ！」
- “But I don't have time to go back to headquarters to get a map!!”