B1 · Grammar reference · ASGTKXFR
Expressing "all along" with "yuanlai"
原来 (yuánlái) means "originally" (similar to 本来) as an adverb, or "original" or "former" as an adjective. As an adverb it can also mean "all along" and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown—a bit like, "so it's been like that all along... how could I have not realized?"
- Keywords
- 原来 · all along · originally
- Used for
- explaining · justifying
- Classification
- Adverbs · HSK4
Examples (10)
你原来的发型也很可爱。
这件衣服原来的价格是999块。
她们原来只是邻居，现在是很好的朋友。
我们原来住在浦东，几个月以前搬到了这里。
原来她是他的中文老师，现在是他老婆。
原来是你！
原来你们认识！
原来是这样！
原来你这么有钱！
原来你在骗我！我怎么那么傻？
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Summary, structure, classification, and adapted sentence examples draw from the AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; changes were made. This noncommercial reference is based on an October 2023 snapshot.
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