“Originally” in Chinese – běnlái

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 本來来 běnlái is an adverb that is used to indicate the original of something, and it’s often translated as “originally,” “initially,” or “origin.”

Structure

S + běnlái + V

他tā本來běnlái是shì一名yìmíng工程師gōngchéngshī， 後來hòulái轉行zhuǎnxíng當dāng老師lǎoshī他tā本来běnlái是shì一名yìmíng工程师gōngchéngshī， 后来hòulái转行zhuǎnxíng当dāng老师lǎoshī
He was originally an engineer but later switched to become a teacher.

你nǐ本來běnlái打算dǎsuàn去qù哪裡nǎlǐ度假dùjià？ 你nǐ本来běnlái打算dǎsuàn去qù哪里nǎlǐ度假dùjià？
Where did you originally plan to go for vacation?

這zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng本來běnlái很hěn容易róngyì解決jiějué， 可是kěshì你nǐ把bǎ它tā變biàn嚴重yánzhòng了le这zhè件jiàn事情shìqing本来běnlái很hěn容易róngyì解决jiějué， 可是kěshì你nǐ把bǎ它tā变biàn严重yánzhòng了le
This matter was originally easy to resolve, but you made it more serious.

我wǒ本來běnlái不bù打算dǎsuàn告訴gàosù你nǐ， 但dàn你nǐ真的zhēnde太tài超過chāoguò了le我wǒ本来běnlái不bù打算dǎsuàn告诉gàosu你nǐ， 但dàn你nǐ真的zhēnde太tài超过chāoguò了le
I originally had no intention of telling you, but you really went too far.

老師lǎoshī本來běnlái不bú住zhù在zài美國měiguó， 是shì2017 年nián才cái搬bān來lái的de老师lǎoshī本来běnlái不bú住zhù在zài美国měiguó， 是shì2017 年nián才cái搬bān来lái的de
My teacher didn’t originally live in the United States; she only moved here in 2017.

S + běnlái + 是 + V + 的 + but

本來来 běnlái is commonly used in combination with 是…的 shì…de structure in Chinese, it serves to emphasize the original or intended state of something and highlights a specific situation or action that has taken place. It often answers the question “What was originally the case?”

A：你nǐ為什麼wèishénme沒méi告訴gàosù我wǒ？ 你nǐ为什么wèishénme没méi告诉gàosu我wǒ？
Why didn’t you tell me?

B：我wǒ本來běnlái是shì要yào跟gēn你nǐ說shuō的de， 但是dànshì我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn忘了wàngle我wǒ本来běnlái是shì要yào跟gēn你nǐ说shuō的de， 但是dànshì我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn忘了wàngle
I was originally going to tell you, but I accidentally forgot.

A：他tā沒méi買mǎi我的wǒde飯fàn嗎ma？ 他tā没méi买mǎi我的wǒde饭fàn吗ma？
Did he buy my meal?

B：他tā本來běnlái是shì打算dǎsuàn幫bāng你nǐ買mǎi的de， 可是kěshì我wǒ跟gēn他tā說shuō你nǐ已經yǐjīng吃chī過guò了le他tā本来běnlái是shì打算dǎsuàn帮bāng你nǐ买mǎi的de， 可是kěshì我wǒ跟gēn他tā说shuō你nǐ已经yǐjīng吃chī过guò了le
He was originally planning to buy it for you, but I told him you had already eaten.

A：台灣Táiwān都dōu是shì蹲式dōunshì馬桶mǎtǒng嗎ma？ 台湾Táiwān都dōu是shì蹲式dōunshì马桶mǎtǒng吗ma？
Are Asian toilets common in Taiwan?

B：台灣Táiwān本來běnlái都dōu是shì蹲式dōunshì馬桶mǎtǒng的de， 不過búguò現在xiànzài也yě有yǒu不少bùshǎo坐式zuòshì馬桶mǎtǒng台湾Táiwān本来běnlái都dōu是shì蹲式dōunshì马桶mǎtǒng的de， 不过búguò现在xiànzài也yě有yǒu不少bùshǎo坐式zuòshì马桶mǎtǒng
In Taiwan, originally, Asian toilets were common, but now there are also quite a few sitting toilets.

FYI
Oh, Taiwan, the land of versatility when it comes to toilets! You see, they’ve got this fantastic mix of Asian-style squat toilets and Western-style sitting toilets. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure bathroom experience.
In the land of pineapple cakes and night markets, you’ll stumble upon Western-style sitting toilets, just like the ones you’d find in the “wild west” of bathroom options. But hey, don’t get too comfortable because surprise, surprise, Asian-style squat toilets also make their grand appearance, especially in those charming, old-fashioned places like parks.
So, if you’re not a seasoned squatter and you’ve just guzzled down a Venti-sized coffee, you might want to think twice before venturing into the park restroom. Who knew your choice of beverage could become a high-stakes bathroom decision in the beautiful country of Taiwan?

S + běnlái + 就 jiù

This structure serves to emphasize the original or existing condition, which is essential for understanding the context and the speaker’s point of view.

他tā本來běnlái就jiù很hěn瘦shòu， 當然dāngrán不用búyòng節食jiéshí他tā本来běnlái就jiù很hěn瘦shòu， 当然dāngrán不用búyòng节食jiéshí
He was already very thin, so of course, he doesn’t need to diet.

小美xiǎoměi本來běnlái就jiù在zài家jiā都dōu說shuō中文zhōngwén， 你nǐ怎麼zěnme能néng跟gēn她tā比bǐ中文zhōngwén能力nénglì小美xiǎoměi本来běnlái就jiù在zài家jiā都dōu说shuō中文zhōngwén， 你nǐ怎么zěnme能néng跟gēn她tā比bǐ中文zhōngwén能力nénglì
XiaoMei has always spoken Chinese at home, how can you compare your Chinese abilities with her?

這zhè家jiā書店shūdiàn本來běnlái就jiù下午xiàwǔ才cái開門kāimén， 你nǐ現在xiànzài才cái知道zhīdào嗎ma？ 这zhè家jiā书店shūdiàn本来běnlái就jiù下午xiàwǔ才cái开门kāimén， 你nǐ现在xiànzài才cái知道zhīdào吗ma？
This bookstore originally opens in the afternoon, didn’t you just find out now?

我wǒ本來běnlái就jiù不bù喜歡xǐhuān旅遊lǚyóu， 是shì因為yīnwèi你nǐ一直yìzhí說shuō要yào來lái我wǒ才cái來lái的de我wǒ本来běnlái就jiù不bù喜欢xǐhuan旅游lǚyóu， 是shì因为yīnwèi你nǐ一直yìzhí说shuō要yào来lái我wǒ才cái来lái的de
I never really liked traveling, it’s because you kept insisting that I came.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ She originally thought stinky tofu was very smelly, but now she finds it just as delightful as the Taiwanese do.

她tā本來běnlái覺得juéde臭豆腐chòudòufǔ很hěn臭chòu， 現在xiànzài跟gēn台灣人Táiwānrén一樣yíyàng覺得juéde香xiāng了le她tā本来běnlái觉得juéde臭豆腐chòudòufu很hěn臭chòu， 现在xiànzài跟gēn台湾人Táiwānrén一样yíyàng觉得juéde香xiāng了le

✔️ What were you originally going to buy?

你nǐ本來běnlái要yào買mǎi什麼shénme？ 你nǐ本来běnlái要yào买mǎi什么shénme？

✔️ He already knew how to play the guitar, so learning the ukulele was very easy for him.

他tā本來běnlái就jiù會huì吉他jítā， 所以suǒyǐ學xué烏克麗麗wūkèlìlì非常fēicháng容易róngyì他tā本来běnlái就jiù会huì吉他jítā， 所以suǒyǐ学xué乌克丽丽wūkèlìlì非常fēicháng容易róngyì

• “Supposed to” in Chinese – 本來来就 běnláijiù (HSK 4)