標本

ひょうほん · hyouhon · JLPT N2 · noun

specimen

🔬 標 (mark) + 本 (origin/book): a marked-out origin sample, like a specimen

標本 means a specimen or example: something taken as a representative sample. The 本 part means 'base' or 'origin', and 標 means 'mark' or 'label', so it is a labelled original piece.

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.

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