JLPT N5 · Japanese kanji
本 — book
- Reading
- ホン・もと
- Meaning
- book; present; main; origin; true; real; counter for long cylindrical things
- JLPT level
- N5
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
本 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N5 level. Its primary reading is ホン・もと and it means book; present; main; origin; true; real; counter for long cylindrical things. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
本 appears in everyday japanese words such as 本 (book), 台本 (libretto) and 手本 (model).
Japanese words containing 本
Frequently asked questions
What does 本 mean in Japanese?
本 means book; present; main; origin; true; real; counter for long cylindrical things in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N5 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 本 read?
本 is read ホン・もと. Reading it inside real words — 本 and 台本 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 本 — is it JLPT N5?
Yes. 本 is on the official JLPT N5 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 本 in a word?
A common word containing 本 is 本 (ほん) — "book". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 本 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 本 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N5 kanji
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