Japanese Conversation · Level 117
60 words
Japanese word
元来
Pronunciation
Romajiganrai
Meaning
- adverbby nature
Example
彼は元来おとなしいです。kare wa gan rai o to na shi i de su
He is quiet by nature.
More examples
彼女は元来人前で話すのが得意です。kano jo wa gan rai hito mae de hana su no ga toku i de su
She is naturally good at speaking in front of people.
Core concept
Points to an original condition or an inherent quality that exists before later changes or circumstances.
Common phrases
元来備わっているgan rai sona wa tte i ru
be inherent
Similar words
もともとmotomoto: It refers to an original condition or inherent quality in a natural, conversational way.
本来honrai: Describes the original or essential state of a person or thing.
生来seirai: Describes a quality that has existed in a person from birth.
Definition in Japanese
初めからそうであることや、生まれつき備わっている性質を表す語。haji me ka ra sō de a ru ko to ya u ma re tsu ki sona wa tte i ru sei shitsu o arawa su go
Word origin
元来 (ganrai) combines 元 (gan, "origin") with 来 (rai, "come"), giving the sense of something that comes from the beginning.
Usage tips
- 元来 (ganrai) often sounds bookish in everyday conversation, where もともと (motomoto) is the more natural choice for the same basic idea.
Other meanings
- originallyadverb
- essentiallyadverb