---
title: "Benqian Meaning: 本钱 (běnqián) Means “capital”"
description: "本钱 (traditional 本錢, běnqián) means “capital; principal”. Hear its tones, see what 本 and 钱 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benqian"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

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

# What does 本钱 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

本钱 běnqián

## capital; principal

## It can also mean

- (fig.) asset; what one can rely on

## Its characters

1. 本 běn capital
2. 钱 qián money

## In a sentence

他开店的本钱是向朋友借的。 He borrowed the capital for his shop from a friend.

[More about 本钱](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%AC%E9%92%B1)

## More words with 本 or 钱

- [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)
- [本能 běnnéng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/benneng)
- [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)

## Keep 本钱 for Review

A free account keeps it, and Review brings it back just before you’d forget it.

## Look up another word

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