běn

原本

Word · Noun · Adverb · ClassifierTraditional本

origin; foundation; book; classifier

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 15 examples
1.

noun

root; origin; foundation

Often used in abstract senses to refer to the fundamental cause or source of something.

Shù树
mù木
de的
běn本
shì是
gēn根
 。

The root is the foundation of a tree.

Wǒ我
men们
yào要
bù不
wàng忘
běn本
 。

We must not forget our roots.

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Jiě解
jué决
wèn问
tí题
yào要
zhuā抓
zhù住
gēn根
běn本
 。

To solve a problem, you must grasp its root cause.

2.

noun

original copy; manuscript; master copy

formal

Refers to the foundational text from which others are copied or derived.

Dàng档
àn案
guǎn馆
bǎo保
cún存
zhe着
zhè这
fèn份
gǔ古
jí籍
de的
yuán原
běn本
 。

The archives preserve the original manuscript of this ancient book.

Jiào校
dìng订
shí时
yào要
duì对
zhào照
yuán原
běn本
 。

When proofreading, you must check against the original copy.

3.

noun

original edition (esp. of printed books); first edition

technical

Specifically used in the context of printing and publishing.

Tú图
shū书
guǎn馆
cáng藏
yǒu有
zhè这
bù部
shū书
de的
Míng明
dài代
yuán原
běn本
 。

The library holds the Ming dynasty original edition of this book.

Chóng重
kè刻
běn本
de的
zhì质
liàng量
yǒu有
shí时
bù不
rú如
yuán原
běn本
 。

The quality of reprinted editions is sometimes not as good as the original edition.

4.

noun

source text (for translation); original work

technical

The original language text that a translation is based upon.

Fān翻
yì译
zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
shí时
 ,
tā他
jīng经
cháng常
cān参
kǎo考
Fǎ法
wén文
yuán原
běn本
 。

When translating this novel, he often consults the French original.

Hǎo好
de的
fān翻
yì译
yào要
zhōng忠
shí实
yú于
yuán原
běn本
 。

A good translation must be faithful to the source text.

5.

adverb

originally; formerly; at first

Indicates the original state or intention, often contrasting with a subsequent change.

Tā他
běn本
lái来
shì是
xué学
yī医
de的
 ,
hòu后
lái来
gǎi改
háng行
gǎo搞
xì戏
jù剧
 。

He originally studied medicine, but later switched careers to theater.

Wǒ我
běn本
lái来
dǎ打
suàn算
jīn今
tiān天
qù去
gōng公
yuán园
 。

I originally planned to go to the park today.

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Zhè这
zuò座
fáng房
zi子
yuán原
běn本
shì是
lán蓝
sè色
de的
 。

This house was originally blue.

6.

classifier

classifier for books, magazines, etc.

A very common classifier for bound volumes.

Wǒ我
mǎi买
le了
liǎng两
běn本
xiǎo小
shuō说
 。

I bought two novels.

Zhè这
běn本
yuè月
kān刊
hěn很
hǎo好
kàn看
 。

This monthly magazine is very good.

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Qǐng请
gěi给
wǒ我
yī一
běn本
shuō说
míng明
shū书
 。

Please give me one manual.