原来 (yuán lái) — (adjective) original, former; (adverb) originally, at first; (adverb) so, actually, as it turns out

Definition

原来 has two distinct uses: 'originally/former' (often interchangeable with 本来, but 原来 is more colloquial), and as an adverb meaning 'so, actually' expressing discovery (e.g. 'So that's who it was!').

adjective
originalformer
adverb
originallyat firstsoactuallyas it turns out

Examples

  • 原来。
    yuán lái De jì huà yǐ jīng qǔ xiāo le.
    The original plan has been cancelled.
  • 原来，。
    Tā yuán lái zhù zài běi jīng, xiàn zài bān dào shàng hǎi le.
    He originally lived in Beijing, now he's moved to Shanghai.
  • 原来！。
    yuán lái Shì nǐ! wǒ hái yǐ wéi shì shuí ne.
    So it's you! I was wondering who it was.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

原yuánoriginal
来láifrom then to now

原 gives original and 来 gives from then to now, so the whole points to what has been true from the start.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

Grammar

Appears in
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