本来
běnlái · HSK 3
originally
🌱 本 = root/origin + 来 = come; what came from the root = originally
本 depicts a tree 木 with a mark at its base, meaning root or origin. 来 means come. Together: what comes from the original root, hence originally or at first.
本 — tree 木 + mark at base
本 is a pictograph of a tree (木) with a stroke at its base, marking the roots. From this 'root' meaning it extended to 'origin,' 'source,' and 'foundation.' In modern usage it also serves as a measure word for bound objects like books.
来 — pictograph of a wheat plant with grain heads
来 originally depicted a stalk of wheat with drooping grain heads, and meant 'wheat' in oracle bone script. It was later borrowed phonetically to write the unrelated verb 'to come,' which became its dominant meaning. The original 'wheat' sense was taken over by 麥 (now 麦).