Chinese word

原本

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuán běn

Meaning

  • adverboriginally

Example

他原本应该在家。tā yuán běn yīng gāi zài jiā

He was originally supposed to be at home.

Illustration for 原本 (originally)

More examples

会议原本安排在上午，后来改到下午。huì yì yuán běn ān pái zài shàng wǔ hòu lái gǎi dào xià wǔ

The meeting was originally scheduled for the morning, but was later moved to the afternoon.

Core concept

The initial state or plan used as a reference when later events turn out differently.

Common phrases

  • 原本以为yuán běn yǐ wéi

    originally thought

  • 原本打算yuán běn dǎ suàn

    originally planned

  • 原本就yuán běn jiù

    already to begin with

Similar words

本来běn lái: Marks what is naturally or properly expected to be the case.
当初dāng chū: Marks the point when a plan or idea was first made.
原来yuán lái: Reveals an earlier fact or situation that becomes clear later.

Definition in Chinese

表示事情在最初就是那样，常用于说明原来的状态或计划与现在不同，通常与但是、却、后来等转折词连用。biǎo shì shì qíng zài zuì chū jiù shì nà yàng cháng yòng yú shuō míng yuán lái de zhuàng tài huò jì huà yǔ xiàn zài bù tóng tōng cháng yǔ dàn shì què hòu lái děng zhuǎn zhé cí lián yòng

Word origin

原 (yuán, "source") + 本 (běn, "basis") links the word to an original foundation, which explains its reference to an earlier state or plan.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this adverb often introduces an expectation or plan, and a later clause with 但是 (dànshì, "but") or 却 (què, "yet") marks a change in outcome.

Opposites

Word lists with this word