本来 (běn lái) — (adverb) originally, at first; (adjective) original, former
Definition
本来 means 'originally / at first' — focuses on a past situation that later changed (跟 原本 同义), not 'of course' (那当然 zirán). As an adjective it means 'original, former.'
adverb
originallyat first
adjective
originalformer
Examples
- 本来，。Wǒ běn lái dǎ suàn qù shàng hǎi, hòu lái gǎi le zhǔ yì.I originally planned to go to Shanghai, but later changed my mind.
- 本来。Zhè ge fáng jiān huī fù le běn lái de yàng zi.This room has been restored to its original look.
- 本来。Nǐ běn lái jiù yīng gāi zǎo diǎn gào sù wǒ.You should have told me earlier in the first place.
Grammar
Appears in
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