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本
本 (readings: ほん, もと; Japanese kanji) means “origin / book”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 本屋 (bookstore).
What does 本 mean?
| Kanji | 本 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | origin / book |
| Readings | ほん, もと |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 本
本 is read ほん or もと depending on the word.
Example words with 本
| Example | 本屋 (bookstore) |
|---|
Practice writing 本 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14