本身 běnshēn itself
itself; in itself; per se
How to remember 本身: 本 source + 身 body = itself.
Characters
How it is used
- Itself / in itself / per se - 问题本身 (wèntí běnshēn) the problem itself, 技术本身没有错 (jìshù běnshēn méiyǒu cuò) the technology itself isn't at fault.
- Placed after a noun to focus on the thing intrinsically, setting it apart from surrounding factors.
- Contrast 自己 (zìjǐ, oneself, for people); 本身 works for things/concepts and means 'the very thing on its own'.