Usage note
原来表示以前、原本，或表示发现真相。
yuán lái biǎo shì yǐ qián 、 yuán běn， huò biǎo shì fā xiàn zhēn xiàng。
原来 means originally or as a sudden realization.
Context note
原来常用于变化、解释和惊讶。
yuán lái cháng yòng yú biàn huà 、 jiě shì hé jīng yà。
原来 is often used with change, explanation, and surprise.
5 examples
原来你在这里。
yuán lái nǐ zài zhè lǐ。
So you are here.
原来是这样。
yuán lái shì zhè yàng。
So that is how it is.
这件衣服原来是红色的。
zhè jiàn yī fu yuán lái shì hóng sè de。
This piece of clothing was originally red.
原来他是老师。
yuán lái tā shì lǎo shī。
It turns out he is a teacher.
我原来不懂，现在懂了。
wǒ yuán lái bù dǒng， xiàn zài dǒng le。
I did not understand before, but now I do.
5 mini stories
我原来以为他不知道，原来他都知道。
wǒ yuán lái yǐ wéi tā bù zhī dào， yuán lái tā dōu zhī dào。
I originally thought he did not know, but it turned out he knew everything.
原来这条路这么近。
yuán lái zhè tiáo lù zhè me jìn。
It turns out this road is so close.
她原来住在这里。
tā yuán lái zhù zài zhè lǐ。
She originally lived here.
原来这个问题并不难。
yuán lái zhè ge wèn tí bìng bù nán。
It turns out this problem is not hard.
我原来没有看见那只猫。
wǒ yuán lái méi yǒu kàn jiàn nà zhī māo。
I had not seen that cat before.
Mini dialogue
找到铅笔
A
我的铅笔不见了！
Wǒ de qiānbǐ bùjiàn le!
My pencil is missing!
B
原来它在你的书包里。
Yuánlái tā zài nǐ de shūbāo lǐ.
It turns out it's in your schoolbag.
下雨了
A
今天不能去公园了。
Jīntiān bù néng qù gōngyuán le.
We can't go to the park today.
B
原来外面下雨了。
Yuánlái wàimiàn xià yǔ le.
So it's raining outside.
Related words and contrasts
similar
本来
běn lái
originally; at first
本来 also means 'originally' and is often interchangeable with 原来.
contrast
现在
xiàn zài
now
原来 refers to the past, while 现在 refers to the present.