Skip to content

本běnclassifier for books, periodicals, files etc

HSK 1word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

本 (běn) means "classifier for books, periodicals, files etc," as in 我买了一本书 (I bought a book), 这本书很好 (This book is very good) and 我有三本书 (I have three books). Each of these examples shows the word with 书, the Chinese word for a book.

What does 本 mean?

  1. 1.

    classifier for books, periodicals, files etcmeasure word

What does the character 本 mean?

  • 本classifier for books, periodicals, files etc

How do you use 本?

See it in 我买了一本书, 这本书很好 and 我有三本书.

What are some examples of 本 in a sentence?

  1. 我买了一本书。

    Wǒ mǎi le yì běn shū.

    I bought a book.

  2. 这本书很好。

    Zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.

    This book is very good.

  3. 我有三本书。

    Wǒ yǒu sān běn shū.

    I have three books.

How is 本 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你买了什么?

    Nǐ mǎi le shénme?

    What did you buy?

  2. Speaker B:

    我买了一本书。

    Wǒ mǎi le yì běn shū.

    I bought a book.

  3. Speaker A:

    这本书好看吗?

    Zhè běn shū hǎokàn ma?

    Is this book good?

  4. Speaker B:

    这本书很好。

    Zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.

    This book is very good.

Can you use 本 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我买了一___书。 (I bought a book.)
  2. 2.What does 这本书很好。 mean?
  3. 3.Fill in the blank: 我有三___书。 (I have three books.)

What should you learn next?

English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.