本

Classifier for Books

Level 1Sounds Like bun2

Use 本 (bun2) whenever you count or specify bound items with pages—such as books, notebooks, dictionaries, or magazines. It goes directly between numbers, demonstratives (like 呢 ni1 'this'), or pronouns and the bound noun.

How It Works

The classifier 本 (bun2) is an essential beginner measure word in Cantonese.

1. Compatible Nouns
Use 本 for any physically bound volume with pages, such as:
• 書 (syu1) – book
• 雜誌 (zaap6 zi3) – magazine
• 字典 (zi6 din2) – dictionary
• 小說 (siu2 syut3) – novel
• 筆記簿 (bat1 gei3 bou6) – notebook
• 護照 (wu6 ziu3) – passport

2. Expressing Definiteness and Possession
Unlike Mandarin or English, Cantonese can use standalone classifiers to mean 'the', or place them right after a pronoun to express possession without needing 嘅 (ge3):
• 本書好舊 (bun2 syu1 hou2 gau6) = The book is old.
• 我本字典 (ngo5 bun2 zi6 din2) = My dictionary.

3. Distinguishing Similar Classifiers
• 張 (zoeng1): Used for unbound, flat sheets of paper (e.g., 一張紙 jat1 zoeng1 zi2 = a sheet of paper).
• 部 (bou6): Used for literary works, movies, or electronic machines. While a long novel can take either 部 (bou6) or 本 (bun2), everyday bound items like notebooks or passports must take 本 (bun2).
• 個 (go3): General classifier. Saying 一個書 (*jat1 go3 syu1) is non-standard.

Examples (4)

  1. 我想買呢本書。

    I want to buy this book.

    Word by Word: I want buy this [classifier] book.

    Here, 本 (bun2) combines with 呢 (ni1, 'this') to specify 'this book'.

  2. 檯面有一本字典。

    There is a dictionary on the table.

    Word by Word: Table top has one [classifier] dictionary.

    Here, 一本 (jat1 bun2) is used to count one dictionary.

  3. 佢借咗兩本雜誌畀我。

    S/he lent me two magazines.

    Word by Word: S/he lent [aspect] two [classifier] magazine to me.

    Here, 兩本 (loeng5 bun2) specifies 'two magazines'.

  4. 我個袋入面有我本書。

    My book is inside my bag.

    Word by Word: My [classifier] bag inside has my [classifier] book.

    Demonstrates direct Cantonese possession (我本書 ngo5 bun2 syu1 = 'my book') without using 嘅 (ge3).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the general classifier 個 (go3) instead of 本 (bun2) for books.

    我買咗一個書。
    我買咗一本書。

    Books and bound paper items require the specific volume classifier 本 (bun2), not the general classifier 個 (go3).

  • Confusing flat single sheets with bound volumes (using 張 zoeng1 for books).

    檯面有一張書。
    檯面有一本書。

    張 (zoeng1) is for unbound flat sheets of paper, whereas 本 (bun2) is required for bound books with pages.

  • Using 嘅 (ge3) with 一本 when you mean 'my book'.

    Different Meaning呢個係我嘅一本書。
    呢個係我本書。

    呢個係我嘅一本書 is a fine sentence, but it means 'this is one of my books'. To say 'this is my book', the natural spoken form is 我本書 (ngo5 bun2 syu1) without 嘅.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

本Level 1Classifier for Books

Learn This First

To use '本' correctly, you need to understand the general role of classifiers in Cantonese and how they fit into the standard number-classifier-noun structure.

Words in This Pattern

本