JLPT N2 · Noun / adverb

本来 (honrai)

本来 (ほんらい, honrai) is a Japanese noun / adverb meaning “originally; primarily”. It appears in JLPT N2 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: ほんらい
Romaji: honrai
Word class: Noun / adverb
Level: JLPT N2 (unofficial)

Meaning

originally; primarily · adverb, noun, noun taking の
essentially; intrinsically; naturally; by nature; in (and of) itself · adverb, noun, noun taking の
proper; rightful; legal; normal · noun taking の, noun

Example sentences

この詩は本来フランス語で書かれていた。

This poem was originally written in French.

Tatoeba #221716

競争は本来悪いものではない。

Competition is not by nature evil.

Tatoeba #181517

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Kanji in 本来

book, present, mainホン・もと · 5 strokes

come, due, nextライ・タイ・く.る・きた.る · 7 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 本来.

本ほんbook本棚ほんだなbookshelves本当ほんとうtruth資本しほんfunds基本きほんbasics日本にっぽんJapan日本にほんJapan本当ほんとtruth本人ほんにんthe person in question本物ほんものgenuine article標本ひょうほんspecimen本部ほんぶheadquarters見本みほんsample根本こんぽんroot

Source: JMdict entry 1523270 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.