原来

yuán lái

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Noun Common

Save to list

Definitions

1. original
2. former
3. originally
4. formerly
5. at first
6. so, actually, as it turns out

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Did Google show an error? Sorry about that. Use your email below instead.

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $119.99 Try a practice session

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 结果 jié guǒ 结果 jié guǒ outcome 常用于转折后发现的情况: outcome

Synonyms

2 items

• 原本 yuán běn 原本 yuán běn originally 用于表示最初的状态或事实: originally
• 起初 qǐ chū 起初 qǐ chū originally 指事情开始的时候: originally

Usage notes

Common mistakes

“原来”作副词表示发现真实情况时，常用于复句后一分句，不要与“本来”表示理所当然的用法混淆。

Example Sentences

5 shown

法院撤销了 原来 的判决。

The court revoked the original judgment.

我以为今天是星期三， 原来 是星期四。

I thought today was Wednesday, but it turns out it's Thursday.

原来 如此！

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 523605)

原来 如此。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 2350399)

原来 你很倔。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 4440133)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 原来

• 来 来 lái: to come
• 原 原 yuán: former