Meaning of 本来
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- original
- originally
- at first
- it goes without saying
- of course
How to use 本来
As an adverb, 本来 often sets up a contrast between an original plan and what actually happened, usually followed by 但是 or 可是. 我本来想去，但是下雨了。(Wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù, dànshì xià yǔ le.) I originally wanted to go, but it rained. It can also mean "of course" or "naturally," as in 本来就应该这样 (běnlái jiù yīnggāi zhèyàng), it should be this way to begin with.
本 (běn) is a tree 木 with a mark at its root, so it means origin or root. 来 (lái) means to come, so 本来 is how things came from the root: originally, at first.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 本来 and 原来 (yuánlái). Both can mean "originally," but only 原来 is used for a sudden realization, as in 原来是你 (so it was you). Also do not confuse 本 with 木 (mù, tree). 本 has an extra short horizontal stroke near the bottom.
本来 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
本 běn · root · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
来 lái · to come · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 本来.
| 回来 | huílái | to return; to come back |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2] |
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out; to appear |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in |
| 来到 | láidào | to arrive; to come |
| 本子 | běnzi | book; notebook |
| 课本 | kèběn | textbook |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 带来 | dàilái | to bring; (fig.) to bring about; to produce |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from (a place); From: (in email header) |
| 原来 | yuánlái | original; former; originally; formerly; at first |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived |
Questions about 本来
What does 本来 mean?
本来 (běnlái) means "original; originally" and is used as a adjective and adverb.
How do you write 本来?
本来 is made of 2 characters: 本 (5 strokes), 来 (7 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 本来 an HSK word?
Yes. 本来 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 本来 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 本来 is written 本來.
What does 本来就 mean?
本来就 means "it was already so" or "obviously, to begin with." It stresses that something is naturally true, for example 他本来就很高 (tā běnlái jiù hěn gāo), he was tall to begin with.
Can 本来 go before a noun?
Yes. As an adjective it can describe a noun with 的, meaning original, as in 本来的意思 (běnlái de yìsi), the original meaning.