复本 (fù běn) — duplicate, copy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal noun for a duplicate copy of a document or book. Pair it with 原件 ('original') when contrasting the copy with the source — e.g. 这份文件的复本.

noun

duplicatecopy

Measure word · 个

复本。
Tú shū guǎn lǐ měi yì běn shū dōu yǒu duō gè fù běn.
Every book in the library has multiple copies.
复本。
Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn de fù běn dǎ yìn chū lái.
Please print out a copy of this document.
复本。
Zhè xiē fù běn hé yuán jiàn wán quán yí yàng.
These copies are exactly the same as the originals.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

复fùduplicate

复 means duplicate, and 本 refers to a copy, so it names a duplicate copy.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

彳复復

Meaning part形符xíngfú

彳彳chìwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

复

Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

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