How common it is
本来 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say běnlái slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
本来用来表示事情的原本状态或过去的情况。
běnlái lái yòng bǎo shí de shì qing de yīn wèn.
本来 is used to indicate the original state or past situations.
Context note
本来常用于描述过去的情况或解释事情的原本状态。
běnlái cháng yòng yú miáo shù guò qù de qíng kuàng huò yìshì de yīn wèn zhuàng tǎng.
本来 is commonly used to describe past situations or explain the original state of things.
5 examples
本来他打算去公园。
běn lái tā dǎ suàn qù gōng yuán。
He originally planned to go to the park.
本来是你的错。
běn lái shì nǐ de cuò。
It was originally your fault.
本来应该早点回家。
běn lái yīng gāi zǎo diǎn huí jiā。
You should have gone home earlier.
本来可以不用来的。
běn lái kě yǐ bú yòng lái de。
You didn't need to come in the first place.
本来想买这本书。
běn lái xiǎng mǎi zhè běn shū。
I originally wanted to buy this book.
5 mini stories
妈妈本来打算带我去看电影，结果下雨了。
mā ma běn lái dǎ suàn dài wǒ qù kàn diàn yǐng， jié guǒ xià yǔ le。
Mom originally planned to take me to the movies, but it rained.
爸爸本来想早点回家做饭，结果加班了。
bà ba běn lái xiǎng zǎo diǎn huí jiā zuò fàn， jié guǒ jiā bān le。
Dad originally wanted to come home early to cook dinner, but he had to work overtime.
小明本来想去图书馆借书，但忘了带卡。
xiǎo míng běn lái xiǎng qù tú shū guǎn jiè shū， dàn wàng le dài kǎ。
Xiaoming originally planned to borrow books from the library, but he forgot his card.
老师本来想布置一个简单的作业，结果太难了。
lǎo shī běn lái xiǎng bù zhì yí gè jiǎn dān de zuò yè， jié guǒ tài nán le。
The teacher originally wanted to assign a simple homework, but it turned out too difficult.
我们本来打算去爬山，但天气不好。
wǒ men běn lái dǎ suàn qù pá shān， dàn tiān qì bù hǎo。
We originally planned to go hiking, but the weather was bad.