本地
běn dì · HSK 6
this locality
📍 本 = root/origin + 地 = ground; the ground you're rooted in = local
本 originally showed a tree with a mark at its base, meaning root or origin. 地 means earth or ground. Together: the ground that is your origin — your own locality.
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.
地 — earth 土 + 也 (phonetic)
地 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left component 土 means 'earth' or 'soil' and gives the meaning, while 也 on the right hints at the pronunciation. Originally referring to the ground or land, it broadened to mean 'place,' 'region,' and 'territory.'