běn
=
b
+
(e)n3:
root / stem / origin / source / this / the current / original / inherent / originally / classifier for books, periodicals, files etc
Mnemonic
Beelzebub (b) finds a Christmas tree (木) in the encampment ((e)n3) and feels like eating its roots (本). He uses a flute (一) to chop the roots right off.
one / single / a (article) / as soon as / entire; whole; all; throughout / "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) / also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit