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本色 (běn sè) — inherent qualities; true character

Definition

本色 is a person's genuine, unchanging character — close to 本性, but emphasizes the qualities a person shows through behavior rather than the abstract nature. 本质 is broader, used for people, things, and abstract ideas.

noun
inherent qualitiestrue character

Examples

  • 本色。
    Tā de běn sè jiù shì zhèng zhí hé chéng shí.
    His true character is integrity and honesty.
  • 本色。
    Yí gè rén de běn sè bú huì yīn wèi huán jìng ér gǎi biàn.
    A person's inherent qualities won't change because of circumstances.
  • 本色。
    Tā zài wēi jī zhōng lù chū le yǒng gǎn de běn sè.
    She revealed her courageous true quality during the crisis.

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běnoriginal/root
色sècolor/character

"本" means original/root and "色" means color/character; together they mean inherent qualities.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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