Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
Chinese to English Dictionary
本来
běnlái
Description
"本来"的意思是事情原来是什么样子，或者按道理应该怎么样。
"本来" means how things originally were or how they should be in principle.
我们常用它来说以前的情况和现在不一样。
We often use it to talk about situations in the past that are different from now.
Meanings
本来běnlái
originally; at first
我本来想去，可是下雨了。
I originally wanted to go, but it rained.
本来běnlái
as a matter of course; naturally
这件事本来就该他做。
This matter was originally supposed to be done by him.
本来běnlái
original; former (state)
这是它本来的样子。
This is how it originally looks.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
本 (root/origin) + 来 (come), together meaning "from the origin".
- Nuance
often pairs with 就 (本来就) to stress something is naturally so.
In videos
“本来就和课本里的中文不一样”
Images