本来 for “Originally” and “Of Course”

Muster

本来 + original plan/state，后来 / 可是 + change; 本来就 + natural fact

本来 points back to how things were at first: 我本来想去，可是…. The next clause usually tells what changed. 本来就 means “it is naturally so, of course,” and makes a point sound obvious.

我本来想去爬山，可是下雨了。

When to use 本来 for “Originally” and “Of Course”

本来 goes before the verb (or before the subject) and means “at first, originally.” It sets up a plan or situation that later changed, so the next clause usually begins with 可是, 但是 or 后来: 我本来想去爬山，可是下雨了. A second use is 本来就, which means “naturally, it has always been that way”: 学习本来就需要时间. Here nothing changes; the speaker is saying the point is obvious.

我们本来打算坐火车，后来改坐飞机了。

We first planned to take the train, but later we switched to flying.

学习本来就需要时间，别着急。

Learning naturally takes time, so don’t worry.

本来说好八点见面，他九点才到。

We had agreed to meet at eight, but he didn’t arrive until nine.

我本来不想说，可是他一直问我。

I didn’t want to say anything at first, but he kept asking me.

Häufige Stolperfallen

本来 sets up a change, so it usually comes with a second clause that says what happened instead: 我本来想去，可是没时间. Said alone, 我本来想去 implies “but I didn’t.”
Don’t use 本来 for “it turns out”: say 原来是你, not 本来是你.
本来 looks back to the past or to how things naturally are; don’t use it for future plans that haven’t changed.

Gezielte Übung

Übe genau dieses Muster, bevor du weitermachst.

学习就需要时间，别着急

Learning naturally takes time, so don’t worry

běn lái

Bedeutungen

originally, at first; of course, naturally

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When to use 本来 for “Originally” and “Of Course”

Häufige Stolperfallen

Gezielte Übung

Behalte dieses Muster im Training.