本来
Meaning in Englishessentially, naturally, by nature
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
本来 means originally or in its true, proper state, indicating the genuine condition of something rather than its later development or appearance.
Main meanings
- Original state or condition before changes or expectations are involved.
- The true nature or essence of something, as opposed to appearances or misinterpretations.
- Used to set a baseline or hypothetical standard in phrases like 本来は and 本来なら.
How to use it
Used as an adverb or noun to denote the original state; typically attaches to particles like は, なら, or だ to frame a baseline expectation; common in formal writing, philosophical discourse, and editorial contexts, as well as everyday speech in fixed phrases such as 本来は or 本来なら。
Variants and close terms
- 元来 — ganrai — originally
- そもそも — somomosomo — from the outset
- 本義 — hongi — true sense
- 本質的には — honshitsuteki ni wa — essentially
Composition
- 本: root, main, true; 来: come; together they signal the state that comes from the origin, i.e., the original or true state
Etymology
etimologia 本来 is a native compound formed from 本 meaning main or true and 来 meaning to come; the ordinary reading honrai solidified through historical usage, yielding the modern adverbial/noun sense.
Origin
Used since classical Japanese; attested in Heian and Edo period texts; today it is a common, neutral term across formal and informal registers.
Word class
adverb (副詞) / noun (名詞)