---
title: "Benneng Meaning: 本能 (běnnéng) Means “instinct”"
description: "本能 (běnnéng) means “instinct; instinctive”. Hear its tones, see what 本 and 能 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benneng"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 本能 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

本能 běnnéng

## instinct; instinctive

## Its characters

1. 本 běn root
2. 能 néng can

## In a sentence

保护孩子是母亲的本能。 Protecting her child is a mother's instinct.

[More about 本能](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%AC%E8%83%BD)

## More words with 本 or 能

- [版本 bǎnběn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/banben)
- [本地 běndì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bendi)
- [本科 běnkē](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benke)
- [本来 běnlái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benlai)
- [本领 běnlǐng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benling)
- [本钱 běnqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benqian)
- [本人 běnrén](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benren)
- [本色 běnsè](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/bense)
- [本身 běnshēn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benshen)
- [本事 běnshi](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benshi)

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[All 214 Chinese radicals](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-radicals)

[How it compares with Du Chinese](https://mandarinthewild.com/compare/du-chinese)