本相 (běn xiāng) — original state; true appearance; true nature; one's real character (often used in revealing hypocrites)

Definition

Literary/formal noun meaning 'true nature' or 'original appearance' — usually used when something hidden or fake is exposed. Compare with 真相, which is a more common, neutral term for 'the truth' about an event.

noun
original statetrue appearancetrue natureone's real character (often used in revealing hypocrites)

Examples

  • ，本相。
    Jīng guò xiū fù, gǔ huà zhōng yú huī fù le běn xiāng.
    After restoration, the ancient painting finally recovered its original appearance.
  • ，本相。
    Zài yā lì zhī xià, tā zhōng yú lù chū le běn xiāng.
    Under pressure, he finally revealed his true colors.
  • 本相。
    Zhè ge shén huà chuán shuō fǎn yìng le rén lèi de běn xiāng.
    This myth reflects the original state of humanity.

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
相xiāngappearance

本 means original, and 相 means appearance; together they refer to the true appearance or nature.

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.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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