元がん来らい

が

ん

ら

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

adverb

originally; by nature; essentially

Describes the inherent, original, or fundamental nature of something, often contrasting with a temporary or acquired state.

彼かれは元がん来らい、優やさ

しい

性せい

格かく

だ

。

He is gentle by nature.

この地ち域いきは元がん来らい、湿しっ地ち帯たいだった。

This area was originally a wetland.

2

adverb

in the first place; to begin with

Used to emphasize that something should have been obvious or was the case from the start; often carries a tone of mild criticism or explanation.

元がん来らい、そんな計けい画かくは無む理りだったのだ。
That plan was impossible in the first place.
元がん来らい、彼かれに期き待たいするのが間ま違ちがいだった。
It was a mistake to expect anything from him to begin with.

Usage patterns

元がん来らい〈形けい容よう詞し〉な性せい格かくだto be by nature a certain kind of personality
彼かれは元がん来らい内ない向こう的てきな性せい格かくだ。
He is by nature an introverted person.
元がん来らい、〈事こと〉のであるto explain that something was actually the case from the start
この習しゅう慣かんは元がん来らい、農のう民みんの間あいだで始はじまったものである。
This custom actually originated among farmers in the first place.

Kanji

元beginning, former time, origin
来come, due, next

Related words

本ほん来らいN2sense 1
元来 and 本来 both mean 'originally/by nature', but 本来 is more formal and often implies a proper or expected state that should be restored, while 元来 simply points to an inherent original trait.
もともとN3sense 1
元々 is the everyday, spoken equivalent of 元来, which sounds more literary and is used mainly in writing or formal speech.
由ゆ来らいN2
元来 is the common modern adverb for “originally,” and it usually replaces the more literary adverbial sense of 由来 in everyday prose.
そもそもN1
元来 is a more formal, written equivalent meaning 'originally/by nature', whereas そもそも is more conversational and often introduces a challenge to an assumption.
古こ来らい
古来 refers to continuity from ancient times, whereas 元来 means 'originally' or 'from the outset', focusing on origin rather than historical duration.

Don't confuse with

従じゅう来らいN2
従来 means 'up until now, conventionally' (referring to a continuing past practice), whereas 元来 means 'originally, by nature' (referring to an inherent trait), so despite sharing 来 they are not interchangeable.

Written forms

元がん来らいUsage98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and general writing.
がんらいUsage2%

Etymology

Compound of 元 (origin, source) and 来 (come, since). The combination expresses 'from the origin' or 'since the beginning'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from the kanji components.