本人
běnrén · HSK 5
myself
🙋 本 = root/origin + 人 = person → the person at the root = oneself
本 means root or origin (a tree 木 with a mark at its base), and 人 means person. Together: the root person, the principal party, oneself in person. Used in formal contexts like 本人签字 (signed by the person themselves).
本 — tree 木 + mark at base
本 is a pictograph of a tree (木) with a stroke at its base, marking the roots. From this 'root' meaning it extended to 'origin,' 'source,' and 'foundation.' In modern usage it also serves as a measure word for bound objects like books.
人 — pictograph of a standing person
人 is a pictograph showing a person viewed from the side, with two strokes representing the legs and torso of a standing human. In oracle bone script it clearly depicted a figure leaning slightly forward. The meaning has remained 'person' or 'human' throughout its history.