本

Concrete: The root of a plant or the physical base of an object.

Abstract: The origin or source of a matter; the essence, fundamental principle, or essential part (as opposed to branches/symptoms); the principal or primary element in a relationship or hierarchy.

Technical: An original version or specific edition of a work; financial capital or the principal sum.

Substantive: Used as "root," "basis," "source," or "principal."

Adverbial: Functions as "originally," "essentially," or "by nature," typically indicating an inherent state or a condition that existed from the outset.

Classifier: In later classical and medieval layers (leading into the Tang period), serves as a measure word for books or volumes.

vs. 根 (gēn): While both mean "root," 根 tends to be biological or literal, whereas 本 is more readily employed for conceptual, metaphysical, or structural foundations.

vs. 原 (yuán): Both refer to origins; however, 原 often suggests a starting point or the headwaters of a flow (the "where"), while 本 suggests the anchor or supporting basis (the "what").

Tang-period reading: *bə̌n.

Distinguish between the glyph's role as a substantive (foundation/principal) and its role as a sentence modifier (originally). In later texts, check if context implies a physical volume of a book before interpreting it as "origin."