本来

běn lái

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adjective Very common

Definitions

1. original
2. originally
3. at first
4. it goes without saying
5. of course

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items

原先

yuán xiān

originally

Both indicate a previous state, but 原先 is more about a past condition, while 本来 emphasizes inherent nature.

天生

tiān shēng

nature

天生 means 'innate', while 本来 means 'original' or 'inherent', sharing a nuance of intrinsic quality.

Synonyms

1 item

原来

yuán lái

original

Both can mean 'originally' or 'at first', but 本来 also implies 'of course' or 'it goes without saying'.

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Avoid using 本来 to mean 'originally' in the past tense without context; use 原来 to describe discovering a past fact, e.g., 原来是你！

Formality

In formal writing, 本来 is preferred over 原来 when stating a self-evident truth, e.g., 本来就是这样。

Grammar

Guides that feature 本来

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

本来 for “Originally” and “Of Course”

Use 本来 to say what was true or planned at first before things changed, and 本来就 to say something is naturally so.

Reading: běn lái Open guide

Example Sentences

3 shown

本来就不应该那样做。

It shouldn't have been done that way in the first place.

我本来打算坐火车，后来改坐飞机了。

I originally planned to take the train, then switched to flying.

本来嘛!

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 3349290)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 本来

本来面目

běn lái miàn mù

true colors

Child Words of 本来

to come

root

本来