本来
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)Old HSK 4
本来 (běnlái) · originally
本来 (běnlái) means “originally; at first”. It is written with 2 characters: 本 (measure word for books) + 来 (to come). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 本来 is built
The characters
本 běn · measure word for books
What 本 is made of
- 木mù — tree
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 八bā — eight
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A tree 木 with its roots highlighted (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
来 lái · to come
What 来 is made of
- 未wèi — not yet
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 木mù — tree
- 十 — ten
- 八bā — eight
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
Origin hint: A wheat plant that has not yet borne fruit; compare 來 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
我本来想去，但是太忙了。Wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù, dànshì tài máng le.I originally wanted to go, but I was too busy.
他本来是老师。Tā běnlái shì lǎoshī.He was originally a teacher.
Questions about 本来
What does 本来 mean?
本来 (běnlái) means “originally; at first”.
How do you pronounce 本来?
本来 is pronounced běnlái.
Which HSK level is 本来?
本来 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 本子běnzinotebook
- 课本kèběntextbook
- 笔记本bǐjìběnnotebook
- 本领běnlǐngskill
- 本事běnshiability
- 根本gēnběnat all (in negatives)
- 基本jīběnbasic
- 基本上jīběnshangbasically
- 本科běnkēundergraduate
- 本质běnzhìessence
Learn 本来 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 34: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.