元来(がんらい)

元来(がんらい) is a formal/literary adverb meaning "originally" or "by nature." It emphasizes that something has been true from the very beginning or is an innate quality.

Common patterns

• 元来(がんらい)〜な性格(せいかく)だ: is by nature a ~ personality
• 元来(がんらい)〜だった: was originally ~
• 元来(がんらい)の目的(もくてき): the original purpose

Similar words

• もともと: originally, by nature (everyday, casual — most common in speech)
• 元来(がんらい): originally, by nature (formal, literary)
• 本来(ほんらい): originally, properly, by rights (formal, often implies "should be")
• そもそも: in the first place, to begin with (often used when questioning assumptions)

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Appears mainly in written language, essays, and formal speech. In everyday conversation, もともと is preferred.