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原本 (yuán běn) — originally (indicating a past situation that later changed)

Definition

Adverb meaning 'originally' — highlights a past state or plan that later changed. Interchangeable with 本来 and 原来 in this sense; 原本 is slightly more formal/written than the colloquial 本来.

adverb
originally (indicating a past situation that later changed)

Examples

  • 原本，。
    Tā yuán běn xiǎng xué fǎ lǜ, hòu lái gǎi xué jīng jì le.
    He originally wanted to study law, but later switched to economics.
  • 原本，。
    Wǒ yuán běn yǐ wéi jīn tiān huì xià yǔ, jié guǒ chū le tài yáng.
    I originally thought it would rain today, but the sun came out.
  • 原本，。
    Tā men yuán běn jì huà zhōu mò qù pá shān, yīn wèi tiān qì bù hǎo qǔ xiāo le.
    They originally planned to go hiking on the weekend, but canceled because of bad weather.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

原yuánoriginal
本běnorigin

原 (original) and 本 (origin) together give originally.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →
Appears in
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