原来 (yuánlái) means "originally" (similar to 本来) or "former." It can also mean "all along," and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown, a bit like "so it's been like that all along, how could I not have realized?"
原来 as "Originally"
Here 原来 (yuánlái) means "originally" or "original."
Structure
原来 + 的 + Noun
Subj. + 原来 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 你 原来 的 发型 很 可爱。 Nǐ yuánlái de fàxíng hěn kě'ài.Your original hairstyle was very cute.
- 这 件 衣服 原来 的 价格 是 999 块。Zhè jiàn yīfu yuánlái de jiàgé shì 999 kuài.The original price is 999 RMB.
- 他 原来 不 知道 这 件 事， 是 我 刚刚 跟 他 说 的 。 Tā yuánlái bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì, shì wǒ gānggāng gēn tā shuō de.Originally he didn't know about this. I just told him.
- 我们 原来 住 在 浦东 ， 几个月 以前 搬 到 了 这边 。 Wǒmen yuánlái zhù zài Pǔdōng, jǐ gè yuè yǐqián bān dào le zhèbiān.Originally we lived in Pudong. We moved here a few months ago.
- 她 原来 是 他 的 中文 老师，现在 是 他 老婆。 Tā yuánlái shì tā de Zhōngwén lǎoshī, xiànzài shì tā lǎopo.She was originally his Chinese teacher. She is now his wife.
原来 as "All along"
Structure
Here 原来 means "all along."
Examples
- 原来 是 你 ！Yuánlái shì nǐ!So it was you all along!
- 原来 你们 认识 ！Yuánlái nǐmen rènshi! So you've known each other this whole time!
- 原来 他 是 你 前男友 ！Yuánlái tā shì nǐ qián nányǒu!It turns out he was you ex-boyfriend!
- 原来 你 这么 有钱！Yuánlái nǐ zhème yǒuqián!It turns out you are so rich!
- 原来 你 在 骗 我 ！ 我 怎么 那么 傻 ？ Yuánlái nǐ zài piàn wǒ! Wǒ zěnme nàme shǎ?You have been tricking me, how could I be so stupid?
The more formal expression 原来如此 can be used like 原来是这样 in example 3, to mean "oh, so it's like that is it?"
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Category: B1 grammar points