本来 běnlái A. adjective original ▸ 本来的想法 original idea ▸ 本来的颜色 natural colours B. adverb ① (最初) originally ▸ 他本来想在沿海城市工作。 At first he intended to work in a coastal city. ▸ 这篇文章本来没打算发表。 This article was not intended for publication. ② (表示理应如此) in the first place ▸ 本来就不该提拔他当首席财务官。 It goes without saying that he should never have been promoted to chief financial officer. |