原本

yuán běn

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Adverb Common

Definitions

1. originally
2. original

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 后来 hòu lái 后来 hòu lái Means 'later' or 'afterwards', opposite of 'originally' in temporal sequence.: Means 'later' or 'afterwards', opposite of 'originally' in temporal sequence.

Synonyms

2 items

• 原来 yuán lái 原来 yuán lái original Used interchangeably as an adverb meaning 'originally' when referring to a past state that has since changed.: original
• 本来 běn lái 本来 běn lái original Often means 'originally' and emphasizes the natural or expected state of things.: original

Usage notes

Collocations

原本 is often used with 的 to form 原本的 (the original) when modifying nouns, though as an adverb it directly precedes verbs.

Common mistakes

Learners may confuse 原本 (originally, as an adverb) with 原版 (original edition). 原本 refers to the original state, not a version.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他 原本 是老师，后来成了作家。

He was originally a teacher and later became a writer.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 原本

• 原原本本 原原本本 yuán yuán běn běn: from beginning to end
• 几何原本 几何原本 jǐ hé yuán běn: Euclid's Elements

Child Words of 原本

• 原 原 yuán: former
• 本 本 běn: root