How common it is
本质 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say běn zhì slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
本质表示最重要、最根本的部分。
běn zhì biǎo shì zuì zhòng yào 、 zuì gēn běn de bù fen。
本质 means the essential or fundamental part.
Context note
本质常用于分析、讨论和判断。
běn zhì cháng yòng yú fēn xī 、 tǎo lùn hé pàn duàn。
It is often used in analysis, discussion, and judgment.
5 examples
问题的本质是什么？
wèn tí de běn zhì shì shén me？
What is the essence of the problem?
他看到了事情的本质。
tā kàn dào liǎo shì qíng de běn zhì。
He saw the essence of the matter.
本质上没有变化。
běn zhì shàng méi yǒu biàn huà。
There was no change in essence.
我们要抓住本质。
wǒ men yào zhuā zhù běn zhì。
We need to grasp the essence.
这两件事本质不同。
zhè liǎng jiàn shì běn zhì bù tóng。
These two things are essentially different.
5 mini stories
老师让大家理解问题的本质。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā lǐ jiě wèn tí de běn zhì。
The teacher asked everyone to understand the essence of the problem.
他终于看清了事情的本质。
tā zhōng yú kàn qīng liǎo shì qíng de běn zhì。
He finally saw the essence of the matter clearly.
表面看起来复杂，本质却很简单。
biǎo miàn kàn qǐ lái fù zá， běn zhì què hěn jiǎn dān。
It looks complicated on the surface, but the essence is simple.
这次讨论帮助他们认识本质。
zhè cì tǎo lùn bāng zhù tā men rèn shi běn zhì。
This discussion helped them understand the essence.
抓住本质，答案就容易了。
zhuā zhù běn zhì， dá àn jiù róng yì le。
If you grasp the essence, the answer becomes easier.