原来 (yuánlái)vs本来 (běnlái)
Both mean "originally", but they diverge into "sudden realization" vs "supposed to be".
原来 (yuánlái)
Used for sudden realizations ("Ah, so that's how it is!").
本来 (běnlái)
Used to say something was "supposed to be" or "goes without saying".
| Feature | 原来 (yuánlái) | 本来 (běnlái) |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Meaning | As it turns out! | Supposed to be / Naturally |
| Emotion | Surprise / Discovery | Expectation / Entitlement |
translateCompare Examples
✅
原来是你！
Yuánlái shì nǐ!
Oh, it's you!
Sudden realization.
✅
我本来想去的。
Wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù de.
I was originally supposed to go.
Expectation.