Kanji

本

book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things

Kanji

Grade

Grade 1

Strokes

5 strokes

Radical

木部

On'yomi (Chinese Reading)

ホン

Kun'yomi (Japanese Reading)

もと

Nanori (Name Reading)

なり, はじめ, もと

Common Readings

ホン, もと

Example sentences

本当 ほんとう
本当 美味しい 料理 だった

It was really delicious food.

本当 です

Eh, is that true?

ほん
毎日 寝る 読みます

I read a book every day before going to bed.

雑誌 読む 好き

I like reading books and magazines (and such).

本気 ほんき
本気 怒っている

He is seriously angry.

ってね ってね
明日 から 本気 出す ってね

'"I'll start trying hard tomorrow," just kidding.'

本人 ほんにん
契約 本人 署名 必要 です

The person's own signature is required for the contract.

直接 ちょくせつ
詳しい こと 本人 直接 聞いて ください

Please ask the person directly for more details.

本当に ほんとうに
昨日 テスト 本当に 難しかった

Yesterday's test was really difficult.

なあ なあ
今日 本当に いい 天気 なあ

It's really nice weather today, isn't it.

Example Vocabulary

Sottaku

About Sottaku

Sottaku is an app for learning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian with a strong focus on SRS. It includes automatic flashcard creation for hundreds of thousands of words, grammar breakdowns in example sentences, language-specific study packs where available, adaptive quizzes, mobile apps, a browser extension, and community features. Give it a try now! All learning content is free with no limits on flashcards or study time.

Sottaku is built to match the habits of successful learners. By using Sottaku, you will naturally learn in the most efficient way possible, as proven by countless success stories in the language learning community.

Free Forever

Access all grammar guides, quizzes, and flashcards without paying a cent. Quality education should be accessible to everyone.

Smart SRS System

Our flashcard system uses the FSRS algorithm (also used in Anki) to optimize your review schedule and maximize retention.

Comprehensive Content

From hanzi, kana, hangul, and European vocabulary basics to grammar and reading practice where available, we have lessons for every level. Practice with quizzes tailored to your skill.

Community Chat

Ask level-appropriate questions and get help from the community. Learn together with fellow learners across all 8 supported languages.