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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
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<p>There are a number of ways to express "<a href="originally"
class="uri" title="wikilink">originally</a>" 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 "originally." 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 "should
be" or "should not be," 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 "Duh!"</h2>
<p>本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is
common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and
listener. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal
English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes
without saying." It could also be translated to "supposed to,"
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,
"Americans are supposed to speak fluent
English."</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, "Moving is
supposed to be troublesome."</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, "Life was
never supposed to be easy."</span><span class="trans">No one ever
said life was easy.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<p><a href="Category:B2_grammar_points" title=
"wikilink">Category:B2 grammar points</a></p>
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