Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 本身 means.
About 本身
本身Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#3157Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 本身
Podcast: 本身
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 本身 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 本身 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 本身?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 本身 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.
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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 本身 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
选择与你本身的肤色相衬的颜色。
xuǎn zé yǔ nǐ běn shēn de fū sè xiāng chèn de yán sè。
Choose shades which tone in with your natural colouring.
