TongTong
Sign in

本性 (běn xìng) — inherent nature, true character

Definition

本性 is a person's true, underlying nature — especially the traits revealed under pressure. It is more fundamental than 性格 (everyday personality) and closer to 天性, but 本性 often carries a negative or hidden sense that surfaces in crisis.

noun
inherent naturetrue character

Examples

  • 本性。
    Rén de běn xìng shì fù zá de.
    Human nature is complex.
  • ，本性。
    Zài yā lì xià, tā de běn xìng bào lù chū lái le.
    Under pressure, his true nature was revealed.
  • 本性，。
    Tā běn xìng shàn liáng, dàn yǒu shí yě huì shēng qì.
    She is kind by nature, but sometimes she gets angry.

Origin

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.

本běninherent
性xìngnature

本 gives the idea of inherent or basic, and 性 is nature, together meaning true character.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 本 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.