The word "版本" is formed through a direct conceptual combination of its two component characters, each contributing a core idea related to physical publication. "版" (bǎn) originally signifies a printing block or plate, the tangible medium from which copies are made. "本" (běn) refers to the root, origin, or foundation of something, and by extension, a book or volume as a primary unit. Thus, combined, the term literally means "the edition originating from a specific printing plate", evolving to mean a distinct version or iteration of any work, capturing the idea of a definitive source from which copies are derived.