Writing
本身 (běn shēn) — how to say "itself" in Chinese
本身
Itself, in itself
pronoun
Character composition
本
root, origin, this
身
body, self, personally
Radicals / Keys
木
Tree
#75 · mù · 4 strokes
身
Body
#158 · shēn · 7 strokes
Examples
这个想法本身很好，但实现起来不容易。
The idea itself is good, but it's not easy to implement.
问题本身不难。
The problem itself is not difficult.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "itself" in Chinese?
"itself" in Chinese is 本身 (běn shēn).
What does 本身 mean in English?
本身 (běn shēn) means "Itself, in itself".
How is 本身 pronounced?
It is pronounced běn shēn (written as ben shen, benshen). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "itself" in Chinese characters?
It is written 本身: 本 has 5 strokes, 身 has 7 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 本身?
本身 belongs to the HSK 6 vocabulary list.
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