本能 — meaning in English: instinct

běnnéng · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for instinct

情人

qíngrén

冰

bīng

本能

běnnéng

现实

xiànshí

被告

bèigào

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use '本能' (běnnéng) in discussions related to behavior, psychology, and survival. For example, one might say, '在危险时，我的本能告诉我逃跑' (In danger, my instinct tells me to run) when discussing a reflexive reaction during a crisis.

Synonyms & nuances

'本能' (běnnéng) is often used interchangeably with '直觉' (zhíjué), meaning 'intuition'. However, '本能' emphasizes biological or instinctual responses, while '直觉' leans more toward intuitive feelings or gut reactions in decision-making scenarios.

Culture

'本能' (běnnéng) combines '本' (běn), meaning 'origin' or 'root', and '能' (néng), meaning 'ability'. This reflects a philosophical view in Chinese culture that instinct is an innate ability tied to one's essence. Additionally, it can also be tied to Chinese traditional medicine, where instincts guide health-related decisions.

FAQ

Q.What does 本能 mean in English?

'本能' (běnnéng) translates to 'instinct' in English, referring to innate behaviors or responses that are biologically driven.

Q.How do you use 本能 in a sentence?

You can use it in contexts like '他的本能反应是逃跑' (His instinctive reaction is to run), illustrating a reflexive behavior.

Q.Are there any common mistakes with 本能?

A common mistake is to confuse '本能' with '习惯' (xíguàn), which means 'habit'. While '本能' refers to innate responses, '习惯' refers to learned behaviors.

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