本来 (běnlái) — how to say "originally" in Chinese

本来

Originally, actually

Character composition

root, original

to come

Radicals / Keys

Tree

#75 · · 4 strokes

Examples

本来计划昨天出发,但是下雨了。

He originally planned to leave yesterday, but it rained.

本来想去。

I originally wanted to go.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say "originally" in Chinese?

"originally" in Chinese is 本来 (běnlái).

What does 本来 mean in English?

本来 (běnlái) means "Originally, actually".

How is 本来 pronounced?

It is pronounced běnlái (written as benlai). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.

How do you write "originally" in Chinese characters?

It is written 本来.

What HSK level is 本来?

本来 belongs to the HSK 4 vocabulary list.

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