本质 běnzhì essence
essence; nature; innate character; intrinsic quality
How to remember 本质: 本 source + 质 essence = essence.
Characters
How it is used
- The essential nature / intrinsic character of something - 问题的本质 (wèntí de běnzhì) the essence of the problem.
- Common as an adverb 本质上 (běnzhì shàng) essentially/fundamentally, contrasting surface appearance with underlying reality.
- More abstract and philosophical than 特点 (tèdiǎn, features) or 表面 (biǎomiàn, surface), which it is often opposed to.
Example sentences
- 这两种葡萄本质上没有差别。 Zhè liǎng zhǒng pútao běnzhì shàng méiyǒu chābié.There's no essential difference between the two kinds of grapes.