本 book / the real

本 is tree (木) plus one line. You can think of that extra line as the real, uh. . .hold on. . .. uh, the ground! The real estate the tree is growing in!

Or, you can think of the line as a page of a book (made from a tree).

Or you can just go home and take a bath. I don't care.

for realz. ★★★★★
本 (book / the real) + 当 (hit the target) = 本当 (for realz.)

xxx cylinders ★★★★☆ COUNTER

used for counting. Ippon is one book. Psyche! ISSATSU (一冊) is one book, ippon is one cylindrical object. Makes sense if you imagine that back when Chinese sages were inventing kanji, books were written on scrolls and shit。

Pronounced like this: 1: いっぽん、２： にほん、　３：　さんぼん、　etc.

one's real feelings ★★★☆☆ CCWFP
本 (book / the real) + 音 (sound) = 本音 (one's real feelings)

one's real feelings, as opposed to 建前　（たてまえ）. You know, the 2 faces that only Japanese people have, as if no one else in the world would dream of being so false, and all that bullshit.

the real thing, not a counterfeit. ★★★☆☆ KUNKUN
本 (book / the real) + 物 (animal / thing) = 本物 (the real thing, not a counterfeit.)

originally ★★☆☆☆
本 (book / the real) + 来 (come/future) = 本来 (originally)

originally, essentially , primairlyー Emphasizes the historical roots. Originally the EPA was supposed to protect the environment, but nowadays it's protecting the polluters!

the real xxx ★★☆☆☆ PRE

PREFIX meaning, 'the real xxx.'

For example, 本人 means 'in person' (I saw Billy Idol in person at the Costco!).