JLPT N5 · 5 strokes
Kanji 本: "book, present, main"
The kanji 本 means "book, present, main, origin, true, real". It is written with 5 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N5, read ホン in on'yomi and もと in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ホン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
もと
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | book, present, main, origin, true, real |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT level | N5 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 1 |
| Frequency rank | 10 of 2,501 |
Common words with 本
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 本当truth; reality; actuality; fact · proper; right; correct; official
- 本book; volume; script · this; present; current; ... in question
- 本気seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity
- 日本Japan
- 本人the person in question; the person themselves; said person
- 本来originally; primarily · essentially; intrinsically; naturally; by nature
- 本当にreally; truly
- 本物genuine article; real thing; real deal
- 一本compteur pour les objets longs et cylindriques, les films, les émissions · un ippon (arts martiaux)
- 本のmere; only; just; slight
- 本日today; this day
- 基本的fondamental, de base, essentiel
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.