Kilo Lingo

(běn lái) - originally, at first in Mandarin

běnlái

Traditional: 本来

Line drawing of 本来
Coloured illustration of 本来
#750 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

originally, at first

Word origin

A two-character word: 本 'root, origin' (a tree 木 with a stroke marking its base) plus 来 'to come'. Together 本来 means originally or at the outset.

Origin
compound
Root
本 (origin) + 来 (come)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 本

Stroke order for 来

Examples

I originally wanted to go.

The plan was simple at first.

It was never your fault to begin with.

I had originally planned to sleep early.

Originally there was a match today.

本来 (běn lái) means originally or at first.

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This word is part of lesson 15.