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本身 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
本身běnshēnitselfHSK 6, r, 12 strokes, rank #3157, Hard
本身běnshēnin itselfHSK 6, r, 12 strokes, rank #3157, Hard
本身běnshēnper seHSK 6, r, 12 strokes, rank #3157, Hard
běnshēn(ben3shen1)ben shen T3
  1. 1itself
  2. 2in itself
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March 24, 2026

本身běnshēn(ben3shen1)

The term '本身' refers to the essence or intrinsic nature of something, emphasizing its identity without external influences. It is commonly used in discussions about philosophy, identity, or when clarifying that something is true in its own right, independent of external factors or conditions.

Strokes12Frequency#3157DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese philosophy, particularly in Daoism, the idea of '本身' relates to understanding one's true nature and the essence of reality, highlighting the importance of introspection and authenticity.

Memory tip

Think of '本' (běn) as a 'book' that contains the 'essence' of a subject, and '身' (shēn) as the 'body' that holds that essence. Together, they represent the core nature of something, like a book containing the true story of a character's life.

Meanings of 本身

běnshēn(ben3shen1)
1itself
2in itself
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 本身

本身Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#3157Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 本身

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AI study notes for 本身

Quick Contrast

自身 (zìshēn) vs 本身 (běnshēn): Use 自身 when emphasizing one's own self or personal characteristics, while 本身 focuses more on the intrinsic nature of something without external influences.

Usage Notes

'本身' is often used in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize intrinsic qualities, but learners may confuse it with similar words like '自身' (zìshēn), which also means 'oneself' but carries a slightly different nuance. Be careful with tone pronunciation: '本' is the third tone and '身' is the first tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, '本身' connects to other abstract concepts and descriptive phrases found at this level. Focus on using it in complex sentences to express ideas about identity and essence, as well as distinguishing it from similar phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '本身' with '本质' (běnzhì), which means 'essence' or 'nature,' leading to sentences like '这个问题的本质是...' (This problem's itself is...), which should be '这个问题的本身是...' (This problem itself is...).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 本身

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Component characters

本běnroots or stems of plants
HSK 15 strokes木
View full entry
身shēnbody
HSK 47 strokes身
View full entry

How to say itself in Chinese

“itself” in Chinese is本身běnshēn

The term '本身' refers to the essence or intrinsic nature of something, emphasizing its identity without external influences. It is commonly used in discussions about philosophy, identity, or when clarifying that something is true in its own right, independent of external factors or conditions.

When to use 本身

'本身' is often used in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize intrinsic qualities, but learners may confuse it with similar words like '自身' (zìshēn), which also means 'oneself' but carries a slightly different nuance. Be careful with tone pronunciation: '本' is the third tone and '身' is the first tone.

本身 or something close to it

自身 (zìshēn) vs 本身 (běnshēn): Use 自身 when emphasizing one's own self or personal characteristics, while 本身 focuses more on the intrinsic nature of something without external influences.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '本身' with '本质' (běnzhì), which means 'essence' or 'nature,' leading to sentences like '这个问题的本质是...' (This problem's itself is...), which should be '这个问题的本身是...' (This problem itself is...).

Write 本身

本
身

Practice writing 本身 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 本身

本身 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

选择与你____的肤色相衬的颜色。

Choose shades which tone in with your natural colouring.

Example sentences for 本身 (10)

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1
选择与你本身的肤色相衬的颜色。

xuǎnzé yǔ nǐ běnshēn de fū sè Xiāng chèn de yánsè。

Choose shades which tone in with your natural colouring.
2
这一回收利用过程本身对环境有害吗？

zhè yī huíshōu lìyòng guòchéng běnshēn duì huánjìng yǒuhài ma？

Is the recycling process in itself damaging to the environment?
3
对这些人来说，土地与生活本身有着不可分割的密切关系。

duì zhèxiē rén lái shuō， tǔdì yǔ shēnghuó běnshēn yǒuzhe bù kě fēngē de mìqiè guānxì。

For these people, land is inextricably interwoven with life itself.
4
鼓励教师调动本身不会消弭教学队伍中的种族隔离。

gǔlì jiàoshī diàodòng běnshēn bù huì xiāo mǐ jiàoxué duìwu zhōng de zhǒngzú gélí。

Encouraging teacher transfer would not, by itself, integrate the teaching corps.
5
如果犯罪发生了，那么根据事实本身，就会有有罪的一方。

rúguǒ fànzuì fāshēng le， nàme gēnjù shìshí běnshēn， jiù huì yǒu yǒu zuì de yī fāng。

If a crime occurs then there is, ipso facto, a guilty party.
6
今天的选举本身并不是很重要。

jīntiān de xuǎnjǔ běnshēn bìng bùshì hěn zhòngyào。

Today's elections are of no great importance in themselves.
7
众所周知，雷恩的墓志铭中写道，大教堂本身就是他的纪念碑。

zhòngsuǒzhōuzhī， léi ēn de mù zhì míng zhōng xiě dào， dà jiàotáng běnshēn jiùshì tā de jìniànbēi。

As Wren's epitaph famously declares, the cathedral itself is his monument.
8
这些花也许只开一天，但植物本身却很长寿。

zhèxiē huā yěxǔ zhī kāi yī tiān， dàn zhíwù běnshēn què hěn chángshòu。

The flowers may only last a day but the plants are long-lived.
9
甚至有一段关于谋杀本身的闪回。

shènzhì yǒu yī duàn guānyú móu shā běnshēn de shǎn huí。

There is even a flashback to the murder itself.
10
我必须先告诉你们关于工厂本身的事.

wǒ bìxū xiān gàosu nǐmen guānyú gōngchǎng běnshēn de shì.

I must begin by telling you about the factory itself.

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Frequently asked questions about 本身

Yes, '本身' is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile in conversations and writing.

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