'Běntǔhuà' literally combines 'běn' (original, root), 'tǔ' (soil, native land), and 'huà' (to transform, to make into). Together, it means the process of adapting something foreign—such as a product, service, concept, or system—to align with local language, culture, values, regulations, or user expectations. It goes beyond simple translation and includes adjusting content, design, examples, units of measurement, holidays, social norms, and even humor to feel authentically local.

This term is widely used in business, technology, education, and media. For example, multinational companies practice běntǔhuà when launching software in China by replacing Western names with Chinese ones, using local payment methods like WeChat Pay, and incorporating regional idioms. Unlike 'fānyì' (translation), which focuses on linguistic accuracy, běntǔhuà emphasizes cultural resonance and functional appropriateness within a specific geographic or ethnic context.