Difference between revisions of "Expressing "all along" with "yuanlai""

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原来 (yuánlái) means "all along", and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown, a bit like "so its been like that all along, how could I not have realized?".
 
原来 (yuánlái) means "all along", and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown, a bit like "so its been like that all along, how could I not have realized?".
  
== Structure ==
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== Structure - 'all along' ==
  
 
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== Examples ==
Some examples:
 
  
 
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The more formal expression 原来如此 can be used like 原来是这样 in example 3, to mean "oh, so its like that is it?"
 
The more formal expression 原来如此 can be used like 原来是这样 in example 3, to mean "oh, so its like that is it?"
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原来 can also mean "originally" (similar to 本来) or "former".
 
原来 can also mean "originally" (similar to 本来) or "former".

Revision as of 08:28, 17 September 2012

原来 (yuánlái) means "all along", and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown, a bit like "so its been like that all along, how could I not have realized?".

Structure - 'all along'

原来 + recently discovered information

Examples

  • 原来 你 一直 在 骗 我,我 怎么 那么 傻?
  • 原来 是 你!我 都 没 认出来!
  • A: 他们 俩 昨晚 一起 去 吃饭。 B: 哦,原来 是 这样 啊!
  • 原来 你 什么 都 不 懂,还 好 意思 说 自己 是 个 博士。

The more formal expression 原来如此 can be used like 原来是这样 in example 3, to mean "oh, so its like that is it?"


原来 can also mean "originally" (similar to 本来) or "former".

For example:

  • 原来 的 发型 很 可爱, 剪 了 太 可惜 了!
  • 我 保证 我 原来 什么 都 不 知道,她 今早 才 告诉 我 这个 消息。
  • 原来 科学家 以为 激光 没有 多大 用处,可 它 却 成为 了 20 世纪 最 重要 的 发明 之一。

Sources and further reading

Books