筆記本 / 笔记本
bǐjìběn
The English word notebook is 筆記本 / 笔记本 in Chinese. If unsure, use 筆記本 / 笔记本 (bǐjìběn). Wiktionary also lists 本子 (běnzi) and 簿子 (bùzi).
Meaning: empty book able to be used for notes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 筆記本 / 笔记本 | bǐjìběn |
| 本子 | běnzi |
| 簿子 | bùzi |
A notebook is an empty book used for taking notes. In addition to the standard term, you may encounter the words 记事本 or 笔记簿 to refer to a notebook in certain areas.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 筆記本 / 笔记本 is composed of 筆記 (bǐjì), which means 'to take notes' and 本 (běn), which means 'book'. The characters within the standard term are also interpreted as 笔 (pen), 记 (to record or to remember) and 本 (book).
Which one should you use?
While 筆記本 is the standard term, 本子 is a more colloquial and common way to refer to a notebook in daily conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The character 本 (běn) serves as the standard classifier, or measure word, for notebooks and books.
How do you pronounce it?
bǐjìběn
Did you know?
- The character 本 (běn) originally depicted a tree root. Over time, it came to mean 'origin' or 'foundation' and eventually became the classifier for books because they were made from wood pulp or bamboo.
- The character 笔 (bǐ) in the term refers to the traditional writing brush, even though most modern users are using ballpoint pens or mechanical pencils.
- The word 记 (jì) in 笔记本 is the same character used in the word 'memory' (记忆 jìyì), implying that a notebook is a tool for storing one's memory.
Examples in context
- 这个包装不下A4的本子。This bag won't hold an A4 notebook.This sentence shows how to use 本子 when discussing the size of a bag.Tatoeba #14038508 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #14038510 by jan_OkulaJu
- 一个A6的本子大概就比巴掌大一点。An A6 notebook is just a little bigger than a palm.This sentence uses 本子 to describe the physical dimensions of an A6 notebook.Tatoeba #14038497 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #14038502 by jan_OkulaJu
- “你这个本子哪里买的？”“网上买的。”“链接发我。”"Where did you buy this notebook?" "I bought it online." "Send me the link."This sentence shows a casual conversation using 本子 to ask about where a notebook was purchased.Tatoeba #14038495 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #14038496 by jan_OkulaJu
- 我需要一本笔记本来记笔记。I need a notebook to take notes.
- 请把这份报告记录在笔记本上。Please record this report in your notebook.
- 我在书店买了一个新本子。I bought a new notebook at the bookstore.
- 你有一支笔吗？我想借来写在本子上。Do you have a pen? I want to borrow it to write in my notebook.
- 我在台湾买了一本记事本。I bought a notebook in Taiwan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “notebook” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
