YellowBridge Chinese Language & Culture
Chinese Language Center

Learn Mandarin Mandarin-English Dictionary & Thesaurus

本来
běnlái
Main
English Definitionoriginal; originally; at first; it goes without saying; of course
Simplified Script本来
Traditional Script本來
Pinyinběnlái
Effective Pinyin
(After Tone Sandhi)
Same
Zhuyin (Bopomofo)ㄅㄣˇ ㄌㄞˊ
Cantonese (Jyutping)bun2loi4
Part of Speech(形) adjective, (副) adverb
Proficiency Test LevelHSK.v3=3 TOCFL=3,6
Word Decomposition
běnroot; stem; origin; source; this; the current; original; inherent; originally; measure word for books, periodicals, files etc
láito come; to arrive; to come round; ever since; next

Related Words

Words With Same Head Word    
本子běnzibook; notebook; Japanese-style self-published comic (esp. an erotic one), aka "dōjinshi"; edition
本人běnrénthe person himself; I (humble form used in speeches); oneself; myself; in person; personal
本身běnshēnitself; in itself; per se
本土běntǔone's native country; native; local; metropolitan territory
本领běnlǐngskill; ability; capability
Words With Same Tail Word    
后来hòuláiafterwards; later
原来yuánláioriginal; former; originally; formerly; at first; so, actually, as it turns out
带来dàiláito bring; to bring about; to produce
从来cóngláialways; at all times; never (if used in negative sentence)
以来yǐláisince (a previous event)
Derived Words or Phrases    
Sign-in
Similar-sounding Words    
Sign-in
Wildcard: Use * as placeholder for 0 or more
Chinese characters or pinyin syllables