Definition
原本 (yuánběn) is an adverb meaning 'originally' — it emphasizes a past situation that later changed, often with a contrasting outcome. It is more formal than 本来 (běnlái) and 原来 (yuánlái), which are more common in everyday speech. 本来 can also mean 'by nature' and 原来 can also mean 'as it turns out' (a discovery), while 原本 strictly refers to a past state that no longer holds.
adverb
originally (indicating a past situation that later changed)
Examples
- 原本，。Tā yuán běn xiǎng xué fǎlǜ, hòulái gǎi xué jīngjì le.He originally wanted to study law, but later switched to economics.
- 原本，。Wǒ yuán běn yǐwéi jīntiān huì xià yǔ, jiéguǒ chū le tàiyáng.I originally thought it would rain today, but the sun came out.
- 原本，。Tāmen yuán běn jìhuà zhōumò qù páshān, yīnwèi tiānqì bù hǎo qǔxiāo le.They originally planned to go hiking on the weekend, but canceled because of bad weather.
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