本质

本質

běnzhì

noun HSK 6 #5,644

Meanings

The root quality — the fundamental essence of something.

Shìqíng de běnzhì shì shénme?

What is the essence of the matter?

Bùyào bèi biǎomiàn xiànxiàng míhuò, yào kàn dào běnzhì.

Don't be misled by surface appearances; see the essence.

Zhè liǎng jiàn shì běnzhì shàng shì yīyàng de.

These two things are essentially the same.

Tā běnzhì shàng shì gè hǎo rén.

He is essentially a good person.

usage

本质上 (běnzhì shàng) = 'essentially; in essence.' Very common in analytical or philosophical discussion.

usage

本质 vs 性质: 本质 is the deep, essential nature; 性质 is the general character or property (e.g., 这件事的性质很严重 = the nature of this matter is serious).

本 běn

质 zhì