Book / Root
本
Book / Root
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
ほん (hon) / もと (moto)
(Japanese reading)On-yomi 🇨🇳:
ホン (hon)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Pronunciation rules
- ほん (hon) is the kun-yomi used when the kanji stands alone meaning "book".
- もと (moto) is another kun-yomi used when meaning "root" or "origin".
- ホン (hon) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 日本 (にほん, nihon: Japan).
- Etymology: Picture of a tree with roots → root, origin → book (as the root of knowledge)
Examples
Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
本 です。
It's a book.
Uses kun-yomi ほん (hon) when the kanji stands alone meaning book
本屋 です。
It's a book shop.
Uses kun-yomi ほん (hon) in compound 本屋
もと です。
It's the root/origin.
Uses kun-yomi もと (moto) when meaning root or origin
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
日本 です。
It's Japan.
Uses on-yomi ホン (hon) in compound 日本
Quick facts
- Radical: 木 (tree)
- Strokes: 5
- Common compounds: 日本 (にほん, nihon), 本屋 (ほんや, hon'ya), 山本 (やまもと, yamamoto)
- ⚠️ Reading usage:
- Book: ほん (hon) - book
- Root/Origin: もと (moto) - root, origin
- In compounds: ほん (hon) - book
Key Words
本 - book
日本 - Japan
本屋 - book shop
山本さん - Mr. Yamamoto