Meanings of 本能
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Podcast: 本能
Podcast: 本能
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AI study notes for 本能
本能 (běnnéng) vs 直觉 (zhíjué) — choose 本能 when referring to innate abilities or instincts, while 直觉 emphasizes intuitive feelings or gut reactions.
本能 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in academic discussions or psychological contexts. A common mistake is to confuse 本能 with learned behavior; remember that instinctual actions occur without prior experience. Be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.
As an HSK 6 word, 本能 connects with other psychological terms in this level, such as 习惯 (habit) and 感觉 (feeling). Students should focus on understanding how 本能 differs from learned responses and explore its application in various contexts.
Learners often mistakenly use 本能 to refer to learned skills, saying something like '他的本能是游泳' (His instinct is swimming) instead of highlighting that swimming is a learned behavior. The correct usage would be to refer to instinctual actions, like '他的本能是逃跑' (His instinct is to flee).
Pronunciation of 本能
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Learning Lab
Knowing 本能 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Component characters
How to say instinct in Chinese
“instinct” in Chinese is本能
本能 refers to instinct or innate ability, describing behaviors or reactions that are natural and automatic rather than learned. This term is commonly used in psychology and discussions about animal behavior, as well as human reactions that seem to be driven by nature rather than nurture.
When to use 本能
本能 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in academic discussions or psychological contexts. A common mistake is to confuse 本能 with learned behavior; remember that instinctual actions occur without prior experience. Be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.
本能 or something close to it
本能 (běnnéng) vs 直觉 (zhíjué) — choose 本能 when referring to innate abilities or instincts, while 直觉 emphasizes intuitive feelings or gut reactions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 本能 to refer to learned skills, saying something like '他的本能是游泳' (His instinct is swimming) instead of highlighting that swimming is a learned behavior. The correct usage would be to refer to instinctual actions, like '他的本能是逃跑' (His instinct is to flee).
Write 本能
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Practice writing 本能 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 本能
本能 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我发现当我们的目光相遇时，我____地还以微笑。
I found myself smiling back instinc-tively when our eyes met.
Example sentences for 本能 (8)
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Frequently asked questions about 本能
You can say '人类的本能是生存' which means 'The instinct of humans is survival.'
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