“Supposed to” in Chinese – běnlái jiù

Grammar Point:
本來来就 běnlái jiù often implies “supposed to” or “it goes without saying,” indicating that something is expected or common knowledge.

Structure

S + běnlái jiù + something supposed to

學xué中文zhōngwén本來běnlái就jiù不bù容易róngyì学xué中文zhōngwén本来běnlái就jiù不bù容易róngyì
Learning Chinese is inherently not easy.

穿chuān褲子kùzi本來běnlái就jiù比bǐ穿chuān裙子qúnzi方便fāngbiàn穿chuān裤子kùzi本来běnlái就jiù比bǐ穿chuān裙子qúnzi方便fāngbiàn
Wearing pants is supposed to be more convenient than wearing a skirt.

這zhè本來běnlái就jiù是shì你的nǐde工作gōngzuò这zhè本来běnlái就jiù是shì你的nǐde工作gōngzuò
This is supposed to be your job.

這zhè種zhǒng人rén本來běnlái就jiù得děi把bǎ他tā關guān起來qǐlái这zhè种zhǒng人rén本来běnlái就jiù得děi把bǎ他tā关guān起来qǐlái
This kind of person is supposed to be put in prison from the start.

人rén本來běnlái就jiù會huì生病shēngbìng， 不bù需要xūyào太tài擔心dānxīn人rén本来běnlái就jiù会huì生病shēngbìng， 不bù需要xūyào太tài担心dànxīn
People naturally get sick; there’s no need to worry too much.

孩子háizi本來běnlái就jiù應該yīnggāi拿ná錢qián給gěi父母fùmǔ孩子háizi本来běnlái就jiù应该yīnggāi拿ná钱qián给gěi父母fùmǔ
Children are supposed to give money to their parents.

FYI
孝親費亲费 xiàoqīn fèi (filial piety fees) are a traditional responsibility in Chinese culture that requires adult children to bear the cost of supporting and caring for their elderly parents, ensuring they receive proper assistance in their later years. In Chinese culture, filial piety is of utmost importance, demanding that children show respect and concern for their parents. Filial piety fees can include providing financial support, food, shelter, and medical care. While modern society provides some level of elderly care through legal and social welfare systems, filial piety fees continue to hold significance in Chinese society. Some families adhere to this tradition and willingly provide these fees, while others negotiate based on individual circumstances. This reflects a moral duty to respect one’s parents, rather than a legal obligation. Similar traditions exist in other Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and more, with variations in modern times but a continued respect for caring for parents.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Friends shouldn’t borrow money from each other in the first place.

朋友péngyǒu間jiān本來běnlái就jiù不bù應該yīnggāi互相hùxiāng借錢jièqián朋友péngyou间jiān本来běnlái就jiù不bù应该yīnggāi互相hùxiāng借钱jièqián

✔️ Walking the dog is originally the owner’s responsibility.

遛狗liúgǒu本來běnlái就jiù是shì主人zhǔrén的de工作gōngzuò遛狗liúgǒu本来běnlái就jiù是shì主人zhǔrén的de工作gōngzuò

✔️ In Taiwan, it doesn’t normally snow in the winter.

台灣Táiwān的de冬天dōngtiān本來běnlái就jiù不會búhuì下雪xiàxuě台湾Táiwān的de冬天dōngtiān本来běnlái就jiù不会búhuì下雪xiàxuě

• “Originally” in Chinese – 本來来 běnlái (HSK 3)