本身

běnshēn

pronoun HSK 6 #3,157

Meanings

1 itself; in itself; per se
2 one's own; oneself

Characters

root; origin; this

body; self; person

One's own body/self — the thing itself.

Examples

问题本身并不复杂。

Wèntí běnshēn bìng bù fùzá.

The problem itself is not complicated.

学习本身就是一种乐趣。

Xuéxí běnshēn jiù shì yī zhǒng lèqù.

Learning itself is a kind of pleasure.

他本身就不喜欢运动。

Tā běnshēn jiù bù xǐhuān yùndòng.

He himself doesn't like sports.

语言本身就是一种文化。

Yǔyán běnshēn jiù shì yī zhǒng wénhuà.

Language itself is a culture.

Tips

usage

本身 is placed after the noun it refers to: 问题本身 (the problem itself), 这件事本身 (this matter itself). It emphasizes the intrinsic quality, separate from external factors.

Stroke Order

本 běn

身 shēn