本来 (běn lái) — original in Mandarin
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#1004 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
本来 is pronounced běn lái. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Běn lái wǒ xiǎng qù, dàn xiàn zài xià yǔ le.
Originally I wanted to go, but it's raining now.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 本来 mean?+
本来 (běn lái) means "original" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 本来?+
本来 is pronounced běn lái. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 本来 in Mandarin?+
本来 is the #1004 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 本来 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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