Difference between revisions of "Comparing "benlai" and "yuanlai""

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==本来==
 
==本来==
  
"本来" is usually placed before subject, and it often requires “就” and some other modal verb before the adjective or the verb to emphasize.
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"本来" is usually placed before subject, and it often requires “就” after "本来" to emphasize.
  
 
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*这些 工作<em>本来</em>是 不必 今天 就 做 完 的,不过 如果 你 想 快点 做 完 也 可以。<span class="trans">These work doesn't need to be done by today.But if you wanna finish them sooner,you go ahead.</span>
 
*这些 工作<em>本来</em>是 不必 今天 就 做 完 的,不过 如果 你 想 快点 做 完 也 可以。<span class="trans">These work doesn't need to be done by today.But if you wanna finish them sooner,you go ahead.</span>
 
* 我<em>本来</em>是 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 going to married him while I found we are just not meant for each other.</span>
 
* 我<em>本来</em>是 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 going to married him while I found we are just not meant for each other.</span>
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If you wanna put an emphasis on what it is or what you think it is as you've got an opinion to express after that,then"本来+就" would help you sound more convincing。
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Subject+本来+就+what you think it is true or right
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===Examples===
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*你<em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要减肥吗?<span class="trans"> You are slender in the first place and you are still planning on losing some weight?</span>
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*他讲的<em>本来</em>就 不 对,为什么还要我听他的?<span class="trans">What he said is wrong in the first place so why are you still asking me to follow him?</span>
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*他<em>本来</em>就 不 是 个 好 人,你怎么还要帮他?<span class="trans">He is not a decent man and why do you still wanna help him?</span>
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*她<em>本来</em>就 不 喜欢你,你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="trans">She doesn't like you in the first place so stop romancing her.</span>
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* 他说话的方式<em>本来</em>就 很容易 让人 不舒服,你别介意。<span class="trans">The way he speaks is annoying anyway so don't take it personnally.</span>
 
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Revision as of 03:02, 6 May 2015

If something is supposed to be the way it is or what you think it is, we say that it is "originally" or "it's supposed to be", which in Chinese are "本来"(běnlái) and"原来"(yuánlái). "本来"(běnlái) is usually adverb while "原来"(yuánlái) could be both adjective and adverb. However, they are used in different ways and different places, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them.

本来

"本来" is usually placed before subject, and it often requires “就” after "本来" to emphasize.

Subject +本来+就+很/不+Adj.

Subject+本来+就+会/要/得/应该+ Verb

Examples

  • 生活本来 就 很 现实。Life is real originally.
  • 创业本来就 不 容易。It's not supposed to be an easy thing to start your own business.
  • 照顾 孩子本来 就 是 父母 的 责任。Taking care of babies is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.
  • 老师本来就 应该 好好 备课。Teachers are supposed to prepared the lesson very well.
  • 美国 人 本来就 会 说 流利 的 英文。Americans are supposed to speak fluent English.

If something happened unexpectedly later,"本来" is preferred rather than "原来" considering there is a change of the original situation。Since it's happened,the pattern "是···的" is suggested here.If you are just trying to give some fact,then "是···的" is optional。

Subject+本来+是+(不)要/会/得/应该+ Verb+的,但是/可是/不过/现在/后来···

Examples

  • 本来 是 要 去 参加 你的 生日 派对 的,可是 周末 突然 要 加班。I was going to your birthday party,but I had to work some extra time this weekend.
  • 本来是 应该 考 得 更好 的,可是 那天 他 发 高烧 了。He was supposed to do better at the test.However,he got a high fever the other day .
  • 我们本来 是 不 打算 去 的,后来 因为 他们 打 了 好 几次 电话 就 去 了。We did't plan to go but we did finally because they called more than once.
  • 这些 工作本来是 不必 今天 就 做 完 的,不过 如果 你 想 快点 做 完 也 可以。These work doesn't need to be done by today.But if you wanna finish them sooner,you go ahead.
  • 本来是 要 跟 他 结婚 的,可是后来发现了 我们 真的 不合适。I was going to married him while I found we are just not meant for each other.

If you wanna put an emphasis on what it is or what you think it is as you've got an opinion to express after that,then"本来+就" would help you sound more convincing。

Subject+本来+就+what you think it is true or right

Examples

  • 本来 就 够 瘦 了 ,还要减肥吗? You are slender in the first place and you are still planning on losing some weight?
  • 他讲的本来就 不 对,为什么还要我听他的?What he said is wrong in the first place so why are you still asking me to follow him?
  • 本来就 不 是 个 好 人,你怎么还要帮他?He is not a decent man and why do you still wanna help him?
  • 本来就 不 喜欢你,你 别 再 追 她 了。She doesn't like you in the first place so stop romancing her.
  • 他说话的方式本来就 很容易 让人 不舒服,你别介意。The way he speaks is annoying anyway so don't take it personnally.

Sources and further reading

Books