本|ほんhon[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounbook; volume; script
   昨日きのうはその本ほんを８０ページまで読よんだ。↗

   I read the book up to page 80 yesterday.
2. prefixthis; present; current; ... in question; ... at issue
   性能せいのうのよさとデザインの優美ゆうびさが両々りょうりょう相あいまって本ほん機種きしゅの声価せいかを高たかめてきた。↗

   The high performance and the elegant design of this model have combined to give it a high reputation.
3. prefixmain; head; principal
4. prefixreal; genuine; regular; proper
5. countercounter for long, thin objects (sticks, tubes, strings, bottles, pillars, rivers, rail lines, etc.)
   ウイスキーを１本ぽん持もっています。↗

   I have a bottle of whiskey.
6. countercounter for films, TV shows, etc.
7. countercounter for telephone calls, letters, and emails
8. counter, sportscounter for goals, home runs, etc.
9. counter, martial artscounter for rounds or points (in judo, kendo, etc.)

• Synonym書籍しょせきWrittenWritten word for books and publications, as in 「書籍コーナー」; more formal than 「本」, typical of bookstore categories and official settings.
• Synonym書物しょもつWrittenSlightly literary word for books, often weighty or classic volumes; in everyday speech 「本」 is the natural choice.
• SynonymブックNeutralLoanword rarely used on its own; it mostly appears in compounds like 「ブックカバー」 and 「ガイドブック」.
• Synonym著ちょWrittenWritten suffix for a written work, or after an author's name meaning 'by' them, as in 「夏目漱石著」.
• Synonym書しょNeutralMostly a suffix for books and documents, as in 「教科書」 and 「推薦書」; used alone it usually means calligraphy, not a book.
• Related著書ちょしょNeutralBooks a particular person has written, as in 「彼の著書」; it stresses authorship, unlike the neutral 「本」.
• Related図書としょWrittenWritten word for books in library and administrative language, as in 「図書館」 and 「図書券」; not for casual talk about a book.
• Related著作ちょさくNeutralMeans written works and also the act of writing them, as in 「著作権」; broader in range than 「著書」, which is only books by a person.
• Related脚本きゃくほんNeutralA script for a play or film, as in 「映画の脚本」; it matches only the script sense of 「本」, not the book sense.
• Related台本だいほんNeutralThe script performers use in a drama or show, as in 「ドラマの台本」; it stresses use on stage, not the book itself.
• Related書冊しょさつWrittenWritten-style word for book volumes; very rare, so say 「本」 in daily conversation.
• Related書巻しょかんWrittenWritten-style word for old books and classics; not used in daily speech, where 「本」 is standard.
• Related巻帙かんちつWrittenArchaic written word for volumes of books or a protective book cover; not used in everyday Japanese.

Use 「本」 for a book in everyday speech. 「書籍」 suits formal and bookstore contexts, 「図書」 libraries and official terms, 「著書」 books by a particular author, 「脚本」/「台本」 scripts. 「書物」 is literary; 「ブック」 and 「書」 mostly form compounds; 「著作」 covers works and writing; 「著」 follows an author's name; 「書冊」, 「書巻」, 「巻帙」 are rare written words.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （ホン）複数枚ふくすうまいの紙かみを片方かたほうの端はしで綴とじた情報じょうほう記録きろく媒体ばいたい。書物しょもつ、書籍しょせき、図書としょ、ブック。
2. （ホン、ボン、ポン）細長ほそながいものを数かぞえるときの助数詞じょすうし。一いち本ぽん、二に本ぽん、三さん本ぽん、…。
3. （ホン）本式ほんしきの、本格的ほんかくてきな。
4. （ホン）いまの。きょうの。今いま。
5. （ホン）自身じしんが属ぞくする。当とうの。この。
6. （ホン）主要しゅような。中心ちゅうしんの。