Writing
本性 (běn xìng) — how to say "nature" in Chinese
本性
Nature, essence
noun
Character composition
本
root, origin
性
nature, character
Radicals / Keys
心
Heart
#61 · xīn · 4 strokes
木
Tree
#75 · mù · 4 strokes
Collocations
人的本性
rén de běn xìng
human nature
改变本性
gǎi biàn běn xìng
to change one's nature
Examples
江山易改，本性难移。
It's easy to change rivers and mountains, but hard to change one's nature.
人的本性是善的。
Human nature is good.
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Frequently asked questions
Nature in Chinese meaning
"nature" in Chinese is 本性 (běn xìng).
What does 本性 mean in English?
本性 (běn xìng) means "Nature, essence".
How is 本性 pronounced?
It is pronounced běn xìng (written as ben xing, benxing). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "nature" in Chinese characters?
It is written 本性: 本 has 5 strokes, 性 has 8 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK 3.0 level is 本性?
本性 is on the HSK 3.0 levels 7–9 word list. It is not part of the six-level HSK 2.0 lists.
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