本能
běnnéng · HSK 7
instinct
🐾 本 root + 能 ability = the ability rooted in you from birth = instinct
Your ben-neng is what you can do at your root level, before any training. Like a newborn animal that already knows how to suckle — a built-in capability, not a learned skill.
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.
能 — 厶 (head) + 月 (body/flesh) + 匕匕 (legs)
Originally a pictograph of a bear, showing its head, body, and powerful legs. Because bears were seen as strong and capable, the character was borrowed to mean 'ability' or 'can'. A new character 熊 (with the fire radical 灬) was later created for 'bear'.