본

본 U+BCF8, 본 HANGUL SYLLABLE BON Composition: ㅂ + ㅗ + ㄴ ← 볷 [U+BCF7] Hangul Syllables 볹 → [U+BCF9]

보복볶볷본볹볺 볻볼볽볾볿봀봁 봂봃봄봅봆봇봈 봉봊봋봌봍봎봏
볘 ←	→ 봐

Korean

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [po̞n]
• Phonetic hangul: [본]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	bon
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	bon
McCune–Reischauer?	pon
Yale Romanization?	pon

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 本 (“root, origin; classifier for books”)

Noun

본 • (bon) (hanja 本)

1. root, basis
2. essence, nature, true self

   본인이세요? ― boniniseyo? ― Is this truly you?

3. source, origin
4. role model, model, example (shortened form of 본(本)보기 (bonbogi))
5. a life-sized object made from a model for making beoseon or clothes
6. main, primary, principal

   본 회관 ― bon hoegwan ― the main place of meeting

7. the place where a founding father was born
8. (only in compounds) book; written record

   희귀본(稀貴本) ― huigwibon ― a rare book

9. counter for live trees and bushes

Synonyms

(role model, model, example):

• 본(本)보기 (bonbogi)

(the place where the founding father was born):

• 관향(貫鄕) (gwanhyang)

Derived terms

(root, basis):

• 근본(根本) (geunbon, “root, basis”)
• 기본(基本) (gibon, “foundation”)
• 본말(本末) (bonmal, “the fundamental and the incidental”)
• 본질(本質) (bonjil, “essence, nature”)
• 초본(草本) (chobon, “herb”)

(essence, nature, true self):

• 본격(本格) (bon'gyeok, “authentic, genuine”)
• 본능(本能) (bonneung, “instinct”)
• 본명(本命) (bonmyeong, “heavenly stem and earthly branch associated with one's birth year”)
• 본분(本分) (bonbun, “one's bounden duty”)
• 본성(本性) (bonseong, “human nature, one's true colours”)
• 본심(本心) (bonsim, “true feelings”)
• 본인(本人) (bonin, “you, true you, myself”)
• 본질(本質) (bonjil, “essence, nature”)
• 본체(本體) (bonche, “essence, nature, main body”)

(source, origin):

• 본관(本官) (bon'gwan, “family clan, the place where the founding father was born”)
• 본래(本來) (bollae, “origin, originally”)
• 본원(本源) (bonwon, “origin, source”)
• 본위(本位) (bonwi, “monetary standard”)
• 본자(本字) (bonja, “original letter”)
• 본주(本主) (bonju, “original proprietor, owner”)
• 부본(副本) (bubon, “duplicate copy”)
• 원본(原本) (wonbon, “original copy”)
• 일본(日本) (Ilbon, “Japan, Land of the Rising Sun”)
• 표본(標本) (pyobon, “specimen”)

(main, primary, principal):

• 본루(本壘) (bollu, “home base, home plate”)
• 본부(本部) (bonbu, “headquarters”)
• 본사(本社) (bonsa, “headquarters, head office”)
• 본선(本線) (bonseon, “main line”)
• 본전(本錢) (bonjeon, “principal, original amount of money”)
• 본점(本店) (bonjeom, “head office”)
• 본조(本朝) (bonjo, “present dynasty”)
• 본토(本土) (bonto, “mainland”)
• 자본(資本) (jabon, “capital”) (economics)

(book, written record):

• 각본(脚本) (gakbon, “scenario, screenplay, script”)
• 견본(見本) (gyeonbon, “sample, example”)
• 독본(讀本) (dokbon, “book for reading”)
• 본문(本文) (bonmun, “text, passage, the body of a book”)
• 사본(寫本) (sabon, “copy”)
• 장본(帳本) (jangbon, “account book”)

Determiner

본 • (bon) (hanja 本)

1. this, the item in question

   본 연구 ― bon yeon'gu ― this research

   본 사건 ― bon sageon ― the incident in question

Etymology 2

Borrowed from German Bonn.

Proper noun

본 • (Bon)

1. Bonn (an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the Rhine River; the former capital of West Germany and (until 1999) seat of government of unified Germany)

Etymology 3

Of native Korean origin.

Verb

본 • (bon)

1. past determiner of 보다 (boda)

   한국에 가 본 적있어요?

   Han'gug-e ga bon jeog-isseoyo?

   Have you ever been to [South] Korea?

Etymology 4

Korean reading of various Chinese characters.

Syllable

본 • (bon)

More information

1. 本: root; basis; source; origin

   (eumhun reading: 근본 본 (geunbon bon))
   (MC reading: 本 (MC pwonX))

References

• Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea (대한민국 대법원, Daehanmin'guk Daebeobwon) (2018). Table of hanja for personal names (인명용 한자표 / 人名用漢字表, Inmyeong-yong hanja-pyo). [1]