Difference between revisions of "Expressing "originally" with "benlai""

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There are a number of ways to express "[[originally]]" in Chinese, but 本来 (běnlái) is likely the first one you learn, partly because its two characters are so simple.
  
 
[[Category:**URGENT**]]
 
[[Category:**URGENT**]]
  
== 本来 (běnlái) Used with 就 (jiù) for Emphasis ==
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== Using 本来是  (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans ==
  
本来 (běnlái) is used when something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener. Since there is no real English equivalent, it is best translated as "it goes without saying." It can also be translated to "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation.
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If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means "originally." Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.
 
  
Subj. + 本来 + + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb
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Subj. + 本来 + +(不)要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的,但是 / 可是 ...
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 生活<em>本来</em> 就 很 容易。<span class="trans">Life isn't supposed to be very easy. </span>
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* 搬家 <em>本来</em>就 很 麻烦。<span class="trans">Moving is supposed to be very troublesome. </span>
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*<em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 太 舒服,就 没 去。<span class="trans">I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well. </span>
* 照顾 孩子<em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents. </span>
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*<em>本来</em>是 应该 考 得 更 好 的,可是 那天 他 生病 了。<span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span>
* 老师<em>本来</em>就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well. </span>
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*我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的,可是 他 那么 忙,就 没 去。<span class="trans">We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.</span>
* 美国 人 <em>本来</em>就 会 说 流利 的 英文。<span class="trans">Americans are supposed to speak fluent English. </span>
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*这些 工作<em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 的,不过 明天 做 也 可以。<span class="trans">This work needs to be done by today. But it's Ok to leave it to tomorrow.</span>
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* <em>本来</em> 要 跟 他 结婚 的,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="trans">I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Using 本来是  (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans ==
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== Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint ==
  
If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means "originally." Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional.
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If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it "should be" or "should not be," then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.  
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subj. + 本来 + 是 +(不)要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的,但是 / 可是 ...
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Subj. + 本来 + ...
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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*<em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要 减肥 吗?<span class="trans">You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?</span>
*<em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 不 太 舒服,就 没 去。<span class="trans">I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well. </span>
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*他 讲 得 <em>本来</em>就 不 对 ,为什么 还 要 我 听 的?<span class="trans">What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?</span>
*他<em>本来</em>是 应该 考 得 更 好 的,可是 那天 生病 了。<span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span>
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*<em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱,当然 买得起 了。<span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span>
*我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的,可是 他 那么 忙,就 没 去。<span class="trans">We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.</span>
+
*<em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.</span>
*这些 工作<em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 的,不过 明天 做 也 可以。<span class="trans">This work needs to be done by today. But it's Ok to leave it to tomorrow.</span>
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* <em>本来</em> 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑,你 别 介意 。<span class="trans">He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span>
* <em>本来</em> 要 跟 他 结婚 的,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="trans">I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) to Stress the Tone ==
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== 本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!" ==
  
If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it "should be" or "should not be", then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.  
+
本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener.  "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It could also be translated to "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.
 +
</div>
  
Subj. + 本来就 + ...
+
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*<em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要 减肥 吗?<span class="trans">You are already thin enough and you still want to lose weight?</span>
+
* 照顾 孩子 <em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents. </span>
*他 讲 得<em>本来</em>就 不 对,为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的?<span class="trans">What he said was wrong all along, so why do you still want me to listen to what he says?</span>
+
* 老师 <em>本来</em> 就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well. </span>
*她 <em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱,当然 买得起 了。<span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span>
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* 美国 人 <em>本来</em> 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。<span class="expl">Literally, "Americans are supposed to speak fluent English."</span><span class="trans">Well of course Americans speak fluent English. </span>
*<em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop going after her.</span>
 
* 他 <em>本来</em>就 很 喜欢 开玩笑,你 别 介意。<span class="trans">He likes joking all the time, so don't take it personally.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
* 搬家 <em>本来</em> 就 很 麻烦。<span class="expl">Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."</span><span class="trans">Moving is always a pain.</span>
 +
* 生活 <em>本来</em> 就 很 不 容易。<span class="expl">Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."</span><span class="trans">No one ever said life was easy.</span>
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 01:01, 10 February 2017

There are a number of ways to express "originally" in Chinese, but 本来 (běnlái) is likely the first one you learn, partly because its two characters are so simple.

Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans

If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means "originally." Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional.

Structure

Subj. + 本来 + 是 +(不)要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的,但是 / 可是 ...

Examples

  • 本来 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 不 太 舒服,就 没 去。I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.
  • 本来是 应该 考 得 更 好 的,可是 那天 他 生病 了。He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.
  • 我们 本来 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的,可是 他 那么 忙,就 没 去。We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.
  • 这些 工作本来 是 要 今天 做完 的,不过 明天 做 也 可以。This work needs to be done by today. But it's Ok to leave it to tomorrow.
  • 本来 要 跟 他 结婚 的,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.

Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint

If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it "should be" or "should not be," then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.

Structure

Subj. + 本来 + 就...

Examples

  • 本来 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要 减肥 吗?You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?
  • 他 讲 得 本来就 不 对 ,为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的?What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?
  • 本来 就 很 有钱,当然 买得起 了。She is rich. Of course she can afford it.
  • 本来 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.
  • 本来 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑,你 别 介意 。He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.

本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!"

本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It could also be translated to "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation.

Structure

Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.

Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb

Examples

  • 照顾 孩子 本来 就 是 父母 的 责任。Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.
  • 老师 本来 就 应该 好好 备课。Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.
  • 美国 人 本来 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。Literally, "Americans are supposed to speak fluent English."Well of course Americans speak fluent English.
  • 搬家 本来 就 很 麻烦。Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."Moving is always a pain.
  • 生活 本来 就 很 不 容易。Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."No one ever said life was easy.

See also