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<title>Expressing "originally" with "benlai"</title>
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<h1>Expressing "originally" with "benlai"</h1>


<p>There are a number of ways to express "originally" in Chinese, and 本来 (běnlái) is one of the ones first learned, partly because its two characters are so simple.
</p>
<h2>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!" </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 See also</span><br/></li>
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<h2>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>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">Subj. + 本来 + 是 +（不）要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的，但是 / 可是 ...</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 本来 是 要 去 的，不过 后来 不 太 舒服 ，就 没 去 。
I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他 本来 是 应该 考 得 更 好 的 ，可是 那天 他 生病 了 。
He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我们 本来 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的，可是 他 那么 忙 ，就 没 去 。
We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这些 工作 本来 是 要 今天 做完 的 ，不过 明天 做 也 可以 。
This work needs to be done by today. But it's OK to leave it to tomorrow. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 本来 要 跟 他 结婚 的 ，可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。
I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>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>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">Subj. + 本来 + 就...</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 本来 就 够 瘦 了 ，还要 减肥 吗？
You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他 讲 得 本来就 不 对 ，为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的？
What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">她 本来 就 很 有钱，当然 买得起 了。
She is rich. Of course she can afford it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">她 本来 就 不 喜欢 你，你 别 再 追 她 了。
She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他 本来 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑，你 别 介意 。
He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>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>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.</div>
<p></p>
<div class="deux">Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">照顾 孩子 本来 就 是 父母 的 责任。
Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">老师 本来 就 应该 好好 备课。
Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">美国 人 本来 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。Literally, "Americans are supposed to speak fluent English."
Well, of course Americans speak fluent English. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">搬家 本来 就 很 麻烦。Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."
Moving is always a pain. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">生活 本来 就 很 不 容易。Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."
No one ever said life was easy.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h3>See also</h3>
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