AdverbsHSK 5
Comparing 本来 and 原来
本来 and 原来 both mean “originally,” but 本来 emphasizes that something was a certain way from the beginning and often highlights a change of plan or expectation (e.g., 'I originally planned to go, but…'). 原来 is more commonly used to express a new realization or discovery, meaning 'it turns out that…' or 'so that's why…'. The key is that 本来 focuses on an initial state that didn't continue, while 原来 marks a truth just discovered.
Structure
Subj. + 本来 + 是 + (不) 要/会/应该 + Verb + 的，但是/可是⋯⋯
expresses that something was originally planned or expected but did not happen
原来 + [sentence]
indicates a newly discovered fact or realization, often with surprise
Examples
- 我本来是要去参加你的生日派对的，可是周末突然要加班。Wǒ běnlái shì yào qù cānjiā nǐ de shēngrì pàiduì de, kěshì zhōumò tūrán yào jiābān.I was originally going to go to your birthday party, but I had to work some extra time this weekend.
- 他本来是应该考得更好的，可是那天他生病了。Tā běnlái shì yīnggāi kǎo de gèng hǎo de, kěshì nà tiān tā shēngbìng le.He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.
- 我们本来不打算去的，后来因为他们打了好几次电话就去了。Wǒmen běnlái bù dǎsuàn qù de, hòulái yīnwèi tāmen dǎ le hǎo jǐ cì diànhuà jiù qù le.We didn't plan to go, but we went in the end because they called us several times.
- 我本来是要跟他结婚的，可是后来发现了我们真的不合适。Wǒ běnlái shì yào gēn tā jiéhūn de, kěshì hòulái fāxiàn le wǒmen zhēn de bù héshì.I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.
- 原来他是老师。Yuánlái tā shì lǎoshī.So he is a teacher! (I didn't realize.)