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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
 
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There are a number of ways to express "[[originally]]" in Chinese, and 本来 (běnlái) is one of the ones first learned, partly because its two characters are so simple.  
 
There are a number of ways to express "[[originally]]" in Chinese, and 本来 (běnlái) is one of the ones first learned, partly because its two characters are so simple.  
  
== Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans ==
+
== Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) for a Change of Plans ==
  
 
本来 means "originally." Use it when you need to explain that happened unexpectedly later. Since the action has already happened, the [[The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details|是... 的 construction]] is likely appropriate here. 是 is optional.
 
本来 means "originally." Use it when you need to explain that happened unexpectedly later. Since the action has already happened, the [[The "shi... de" construction for emphasizing details|是... 的 construction]] is likely appropriate here. 是 is optional.
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Subj. + 本来 + 是 +(不)[要 / 会 / 应该] + Verb + 的,[但是 / 可是 / 不过]...
Subj. + 本来 + 是 +(不)要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的,但是 / 可是 ...
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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* 我 <em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 不 太 舒服 ,就 没 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>běnlái</em> shì yào qù de, bùguò hòulái bù tài shūfu, jiù méi qù.</span><span class="trans">I originally wanted to go, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.</span>
* 我 <em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 不 太 舒服 ,就 没 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>běnlái</em> shì yào qù de, bùguò hòulái bù tài shūfú, jiù méi qù.</span><span class="trans">I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.</span>
+
* 这些 工作 <em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 ,不过 明天 做 也 可以 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē gōngzuò <em>běnlái</em> shì yào jīntiān zuò wán de, bùguò míngtiān zuò yě kěyǐ.</span><span class="trans">This work was originally supposed to be done by today, but it's OK to do it tomorrow.</span>
* <em>本来</em> 是 应该 考 得 更 好 ,可是 那天 他 生病 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>běnlái</em> shì yīnggāi kǎo dé gèng hǎo de, kěshì nèitiān tā shēngbìng le.</span><span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span>
+
* <em>本来</em> 要 跟 结婚 的 ,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="pinyin"><em>běnlái</em> yào gēn jiéhūn de, kěshì hòulái fāxiàn le wǒmen zhēn de bù héshì.</span><span class="trans">I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are really not right for each other.</span>
* 我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 帮忙 的,可是 他 那么 忙 ,就 没 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>běnlái</em> xiǎng qù zhǎo bāngmáng de, kěshì tā nàme máng, jiù méi qù.</span><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> 是 应该 考 得 更 好 ,可是 那天 他 生病 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>běnlái</em> shì yīnggāi kǎo de gèng hǎo de, kěshì nà tiān tā shēngbìng le.</span><span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span>
* 这些 工作 <em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 ,不过 明天 做 也 可以 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē gōngzuò <em>běnlái</em> shì yào jīntiān zuò wán de, bùguò míngtiān zuò yě kěyǐ.</span><span class="trans">This work needs to be done by today. But it's OK to leave it to tomorrow.</span>
+
* 我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的,可是 那么 忙 ,就 没 去 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>běnlái</em> xiǎng qù zhǎo bāngmáng de, kěshì tā nàme máng, jiù méi qù.</span><span class="trans">We were going to go ask him for help, but we didn't because he is so busy.</span>
* <em>本来</em> 要 跟 结婚 的 ,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="pinyin"><em>běnlái</em> yào gēn jiéhūn de, kěshì hòulái fāxiàn le wǒmen zhēn de bù héshì.</span><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) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint ==
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== Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) 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.  
+
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 [[Asking rhetorical questions|rhetorical question]] that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.  
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*你 <em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要 减肥 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>běnlái</em> jiù gòu shòule, hái yào jiǎnféi ma?</span><span class="trans">You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?</span>
+
*你 <em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要 减肥 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>běnlái</em> jiù gòu shòu le, hái yào jiǎnféi ma?</span><span class="trans">You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?</span>
*他 讲 得 <em>本来</em>就 不 对 ,为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiǎng <em>běnlái</em> jiù bùduì, wèishéme hái yào wǒ tīng tā de?</span><span class="trans">What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?</span>
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*他 讲 得 <em>本来</em>就 不 对 ,为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiǎng de <em>běnlái</em> jiù bù duì, wèishénme hái yào wǒ tīng tā de?</span><span class="trans">What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?</span>
*她 <em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱,当然 买得起 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn yǒu qián, dāngrán mǎi dé qǐle.</span><span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span>
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*她 <em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱,当然 买得起 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn yǒuqián, dāngrán mǎi deqǐ le.</span><span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span>
*她 <em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù bù xǐhuān nǐ, nǐ bié zài zhuī tā le.</span><span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.</span>
+
*她 <em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù bù xǐhuan nǐ, nǐ bié zài zhuī tā le.</span><span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.</span>
* 他 <em>本来</em> 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑,你 别 介意 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn xǐhuān kāiwánxiào, nǐ bié jièyì.</span><span class="trans">He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span>
+
* 他 <em>本来</em> 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑,你 别 介意 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn xǐhuan kāiwánxiào, nǐ bié jièyì.</span><span class="trans">He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== 本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!" ==
 
== 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.   
+
本来 (běnlái) is used to stress that the speaker believes something to be common knowledge. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It's often easier to translate the feeling imparted by 本来就 as "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation.   
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 照顾 孩子 <em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="pinyin">Zhàogù háizi <em>běnlái</em> jiùshì fùmǔ de zérèn.</span><span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.</span>
 
* 照顾 孩子 <em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="pinyin">Zhàogù háizi <em>běnlái</em> jiùshì fùmǔ de zérèn.</span><span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.</span>
* 老师 <em>本来</em> 就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>běnlái</em> jiù yīnggāi hǎohǎo bèikè.</span><span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.</span>
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* 老师 <em>本来</em> 就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>běnlái</em> jiù yīnggāi hǎohāo bèikè.</span><span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.</span>
* 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="pinyin">Měiguó rén <em>běnlái</em> jiù huì shuō liúlì de Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">Well, of course Americans speak fluent English.</span>
 
 
* 搬家 <em>本来</em> 就 很 麻烦。<span class="expl">Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."</span><span class="pinyin">Bānjiā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn máfan.</span><span class="trans">Moving is always a pain.</span>
 
* 搬家 <em>本来</em> 就 很 麻烦。<span class="expl">Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."</span><span class="pinyin">Bānjiā <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn máfan.</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="pinyin">Shēnghuó <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn bù róngyì.</span><span class="trans">No one ever said life was easy.</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="pinyin">Shēnghuó <em>běnlái</em> jiù hěn bù róngyì.</span><span class="trans">No one ever said life was easy.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
== See also ==
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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{{Used for|explaining}}
 
{{Used for|explaining}}
 
{{Used for|justifying}}
 
{{Used for|justifying}}
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{{Used for|Asking rhetorical questions}}
 
{{Translation|originally}}
 
{{Translation|originally}}

Latest revision as of 07:41, 19 January 2021

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

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

本来 means "originally." Use it when you need to explain that happened unexpectedly later. Since the action has already happened, the 是... 的 construction is likely appropriate here. 是 is optional.

Structure

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

Examples

  • 本来 是 要 去 的,不过 后来 不 太 舒服 ,就 没 去 。běnlái shì yào qù de, bùguò hòulái bù tài shūfu, jiù méi qù.I originally wanted to go, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.
  • 这些 工作 本来 是 要 今天 做完 的 ,不过 明天 做 也 可以 。Zhèxiē gōngzuò běnlái shì yào jīntiān zuò wán de, bùguò míngtiān zuò yě kěyǐ.This work was originally supposed to be done by today, but it's OK to do it tomorrow.
  • 本来 要 跟 他 结婚 的 ,可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。běnlái 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 really not right for each other.
  • 本来 是 应该 考 得 更 好 的 ,可是 那天 他 生病 了 。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 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的,可是 他 那么 忙 ,就 没 去 。Wǒmen běnlái xiǎng qù zhǎo tā bāngmáng de, kěshì tā nàme máng, jiù méi qù.We were going to go ask him for help, but we didn't because he is so busy.

Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) 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?běnlái jiù gòu shòu le, hái yào jiǎnféi ma?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?Tā jiǎng de běnlái jiù bù duì, wèishénme hái yào wǒ tīng tā de?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。běnlái jiù hěn yǒuqián, dāngrán mǎi deqǐ le.She is rich. Of course she can afford it.
  • 本来 就 不 喜欢 你,你 别 再 追 她 了。běnlái jiù bù xǐhuan nǐ, nǐ bié zài zhuī tā le.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 。běnlái jiù hěn xǐhuan kāiwánxiào, nǐ bié jièyì.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 to stress that the speaker believes something to be common knowledge. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It's often easier to translate the feeling imparted by 本来就 as "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。Zhàogù háizi běnlái jiùshì fùmǔ de zérèn.Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.
  • 老师 本来 就 应该 好好 备课。Lǎoshī běnlái jiù yīnggāi hǎohāo bèikè.Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.
  • 搬家 本来 就 很 麻烦。Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."Bānjiā běnlái jiù hěn máfan.Moving is always a pain.
  • 生活 本来 就 很 不 容易。Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."Shēnghuó běnlái jiù hěn bù róngyì.No one ever said life was easy.

Sources and further reading

Books