ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-26.txt.html

<p>There are a number of ways to express &quot;<a href="originally" class="uri" title="wikilink">originally</a>&quot; in Chinese, and 本来 (běnlái) is one of the ones first learned, partly because its two characters are so simple.</p>
<h2 id="using-本来是-běnlái-shì-expresses-a-change-of-plans">Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans</h2>
<p>If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means &quot;originally.&quot; Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional.</p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 本来 + 是 +（不）要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的，但是 / 可是 ...</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 <em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的，不过 后来 不 太 舒服 ，就 没 去 。<span class="trans">I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.</span></li>
<li>他 <em>本来</em> 是 应该 考 得 更 好 的 ，可是 那天 他 生病 了 。<span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span></li>
<li>我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的，可是 他 那么 忙 ，就 没 去 。<span class="trans">We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.</span></li>
<li>这些 工作 <em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 的 ，不过 明天 做 也 可以 。<span class="trans">This work needs to be done by today. But it's OK to leave it to tomorrow.</span></li>
<li>我 <em>本来</em> 要 跟 他 结婚 的 ，可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="trans">I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="using-本来就-běnlái-jiù-used-for-emphasis-of-a-viewpoint">Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint</h2>
<p>If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it &quot;should be&quot; or &quot;should not be,&quot; then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 本来 + 就...</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>你 <em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ，还要 减肥 吗？<span class="trans">You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?</span></li>
<li>他 讲 得 <em>本来</em>就 不 对 ，为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的？<span class="trans">What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?</span></li>
<li>她 <em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱，当然 买得起 了。<span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span></li>
<li>她 <em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你，你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.</span></li>
<li>他 <em>本来</em> 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑，你 别 介意 。<span class="trans">He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="本来-běnlái-with-就-jiù-to-express-duh">本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express &quot;Duh!&quot;</h2>
<p>本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener. &quot;Duh&quot; is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be &quot;it goes without saying.&quot; It could also be translated to &quot;supposed to,&quot; following it with a certain expectation.</p>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.</p>
</div>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>照顾 孩子 <em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.</span></li>
<li>老师 <em>本来</em> 就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.</span></li>
<li>美国 人 <em>本来</em> 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。<span class="expl">Literally, &quot;Americans are supposed to speak fluent English.&quot;</span><span class="trans">Well, of course Americans speak fluent English.</span></li>
<li>搬家 <em>本来</em> 就 很 麻烦。<span class="expl">Literally, &quot;Moving is supposed to be troublesome.&quot;</span><span class="trans">Moving is always a pain.</span></li>
<li>生活 <em>本来</em> 就 很 不 容易。<span class="expl">Literally, &quot;Life was never supposed to be easy.&quot;</span><span class="trans">No one ever said life was easy.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>      </p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<p><a href="Category:B2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category:B2 grammar points</a></p>