<blockquote>
  <p>'本来' means 'original/ <strong>originally</strong>/ at first'  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example: "我<strong>本来</strong>不想去的" (<strong>originally</strong>, I didn't want to go )</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>'原来'(the truth from the origin) means '<strong>actually</strong>' /<strong>as it turns out</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example: </p>

<p>"<strong>原来</strong>你不想去" (you <strong>actually</strong>/ don't want to go)/(<strong>as it turns out</strong>, you don't want to go)</p>

<p>"<strong>原来</strong>你沒錢去" (you <strong>actually</strong> don't have money to go)/ (<strong>as it turns out</strong>, you don't have money to go</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>'原本' = '本来' </p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example: "我<strong>原本</strong>不想去的" (<strong>originally</strong>, I didn't want to go)</p>

<ul>
<li><p>这儿(本来/原本)是个冰场，现在盖起了高楼。</p></li>
<li><p>回国的日子(本来/原本)定在下月二十号，可是因为没有买到机票，就改到二十七号了。</p></li>
<li><p>这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾(<em>本来的/ 原本的</em>)味道都没有了。(<em>the original taste</em>)/ 这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾(<em>原来的</em>)味道都没有了。(the <em>actual</em> taste)</p></li>
<li><p>我找了你半天，(原来)你在这儿呀。</p></li>
</ul>

<p><em>Many people use 原来 instead of 原本 when they meant "originally" because they think 原来 and 原本 are the same</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>原本" = “本來” ; "原來 = 其實</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T09:23:29.360Z
In fact, in my thinking, 本来 has the sense of meaning "actually". Am I right? I didn't know there's a word "原本", though, that's interesting.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T09:45:02.420Z
Some people also confuse 本来 with 原来 when they meant 'actually' . Just remember 原来 means 'actually' ; 本来 means 'originally'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T10:21:02.050Z
`Many people use 原来 instead of 原本 when they meant "originally" because they think 原来 and 原本 are the same` Is "原本" = “本来” = "原来" then?
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T11:50:53.190Z
原本" = “本来” ; "原来 = 其实
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-04T04:45:15.873Z
You gave the answer `本来/原本` on sentence #1 and #2. Can they be changed to `原来`?
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-04T05:48:19.157Z
@Reynaldi No, 原来 means 'actually', "这儿(原来)是个冰场" would mean "It is actually a skate ring" or "as it turned out, it is a skate ring. Not " it was originally a skate ring as in "这儿(本来/原本)是个冰场"
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-04T05:57:24.257Z
One more examples  of 本来 vs. 原来-  (1) "本来你不用去" (originally, you didn't need to go) ; (2)"原来你沒有去" ( as it turned out, you didn't go)
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-05T13:22:26.143Z
The normal interpretation: 这儿原来是个冰场 means "it was a skate ring before/originally". 这原来是个冰厂啊！ sounds like you don't know it is a skate ring, but now you find it.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T08:57:41.793Z
2018-06-03T00:00:52.007Z
2018-06-03T00:00:52.007Z
Tang Ho
<p>In my opinion, 1,2,3 can be both. 4 should be filled with 原来.</p>
<p>原来 could be used when you don't know something and then you find it out all of sudden. For example, 原来是你啊！ 原来是你干的啊！
本来 can't be used for this sense.</p>
<p>Most of time they are  interchangeable.</p>
<p>In your update sentence, 本来 is preferable, and 原来 is not that good. But if you put 原来 in the middle (丁鐺：&quot;是的，我原来要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天,) that will be ok. This might be because if you put 原来 at the beginning of an sentence, that sounds you have found something all of sudden, which you didn't know. But actually you want to convey the sense <strong>originally</strong>.</p>
<p>I guess the <strong>key</strong> might be they are interchangeable within a sentence, but not at the beginning of a sentence!</p>
<blockquote>
<p>丁鐺：&quot;是的，本來我要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天。</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Update</strong></p>
<p>I feel this dictionary definition are accurate:</p>
<p><strong>本来</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>原来，原先。</li>
</ol>
<p>杨朔《京城漫记》：“这地方在北京南城角，本来是京城有名的风景区。”</p>
<p>2 . 原有的。</p>
<p>本来面目。</p>
<p>3 .指人本有的心性。</p>
<p>黄人《〈小说林〉发刊词》：“心理之辟，尤在昧厥本来。”</p>
<p>4 .表示理该如此。</p>
<p>本来就该这么办</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>原来</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>1 . 当初；未经改变的。</p>
<p>周而复《上海的早晨》：“阿英给奶奶提醒，立即退了回来，把脸盆放在床上原来的地方接水。”</p>
<p>2 . 副词。表示发现从前不知道的情况。</p>
<p>魏巍《东方》：“郭祥勉强睁开眼睛，原来担架停在一面悬崖下。”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I think this should help you a lot if you can understand those definitions in Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T08:59:31.220Z
Okay, now I'm getting more confused. Could you explain why you say sentence #1 ~ #3 can be both?
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T09:06:39.477Z
@Reynaldi sorry for the confusion. I'm not sure what you have learnt. In practice, they are interchangeable most of time. The only case where you can't use 本来 is the one I put it in my answer. As of now, I can not really think of other cases where you can only use one over the other. If you have more examples, I can help you to analysis. Good luck! :)
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T09:33:04.893Z
I see. Yeah, when I check in dictionary, both of them mean "original / originally". I'm curious what makes them different. I've edited the question for another example.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T09:49:35.893Z
@Reynaldi I updated my answer based on your new example. Hope it could help you out.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T10:24:41.530Z
Thanks. `我原来要去……` seems makes sense to me.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T09:47:55.733Z
Thanks for the update. I think I get the definition of `原来`. I don't quite understand on 3rd meaning of `本来`, does it mean “one's native”? Most of the definition of `本来`, though, seems pretty much the same as `原来`.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T11:27:42.623Z
@Reynaldi only the first definition of 本来 is the same as 原来. The third definition of 本来: 指人本有的心性,  you can ignore it because we it's only for traditional Chinese.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T03:07:32.023Z
Based on your definition, can I just say that `本来` can be exchanged with `原来`, but `原来` may not always be exchanged with `本来`?
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T03:33:00.403Z
@Reynaldi that's not very accurate. They are only interchangeable when meaning sense 1, *original*. 本来 has another 2 usages which can't be replaced with 原来. In definition 2, 本来面目 and definition 4 本来就该这么办. You can't replace 本来 with 原来 in those two phrases. Well, the definition 2 of 原来,  表示发现从前不知道的情况, you can't use 本来 for this sense as well.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T03:40:18.710Z
@Reynaldi even in the sense 1 *original*, there is still a nuance, 原来 has the sense of 当初；未经改变的, referring to the definition 1 of 原来. Well, 本来 connotes what the thing should be originally, usually referring to its 'nature'. In the example of 把脸盆放在床上原来的地方接水, 原来 would sound better than 本来 here, because it denotes the sense of *unchanged*.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T03:55:07.910Z
@Reynaldi sometimes, the nuance in definition 1 is not that important, that's why we can use them interchangeably. Back to your original 4 examples, 1 & 2 can be roughly both. For 3,  本来 sounds better, because 虾本来的味道都没有了 talks about  虾 itself, its 'nature' taste. Well, 虾原来的味道 sounds that originally (in the past or before you put the salt) 虾 taste like. So, that's why I said both can be used for 3, but actually 本来 is more preferable. 4 is very obvious, it should be 原来 as it falls the definition 2 表示发现从前不知道的情况. Hope this could help you out!
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T08:46:42.473Z
2018-06-06T08:43:47.423Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dan
<p>I was learning in a Mandarin class and I was kind of stumped on the use of &quot;本来&quot; and &quot;原来&quot; when filling in the blanks in a sentence. Here's my attempt to these questions (taken from 汉语口语速成: 基础篇 pp. 91-92):</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>这儿____是个冰场，现在盖起了高楼。(My answer was &quot;原来&quot;, the answer is <strong>can be both</strong>.)</li>
<li>回国的日子____定在下月二十号，可是因为没有买到机票，就改到二十七号了。(My answer was &quot;本来&quot;, the answer is &quot;<strong>本来</strong>&quot;.)</li>
<li>这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾_____的味道都没有了。(My answer was &quot;本来&quot;, the answer is &quot;<strong>原来</strong>&quot;)</li>
<li>我找了你半天，____你在这儿呀。(My answer was &quot;原来&quot;, the answer is <strong>can be both</strong>.)</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>There's no problem with the sentence #2 and #3. I got it right on the second sentence. I got it wrong on the third sentence, since I just know that &quot;原来&quot; can be used as an adjective, and the speaker already realized that the taste of the food is not good, hence my mistake.</p>
<p>What makes me confused is the answer of #1 and #4, is it true that either &quot;本来&quot; or &quot;原来&quot; correct in sentence #1 and #4? I thought only one of them can fit.</p>
<p>From what I understand from <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22benlai%22_and_%22yuanlai%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chinese Grammar Wiki</a> and some Chinese movies, my thinking is this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I'm using “本来” when something unexpectedly happened, and the speaker doesn't realize until it happens. But if the speaker accidentally find out or realize the situation has changed, I should use “原来”.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Is my thinking true? If not, then on which case should I use &quot;本来&quot; or &quot;原来&quot;?</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Here's another example I got from a movie:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>丁鐺：&quot;你們晚上沒演出啊?&quot;</p>
<p>藍雲：&quot;沒有，最近演白天，你一個人來?&quot;</p>
<p>丁鐺：&quot;是的，<strong>本來</strong>我要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天。&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The speaker use &quot;本来&quot; here, can it be changed to &quot;原来&quot;?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T08:25:26.987Z
1: yeah, both works, but I prefer 原来。4: No, 本来 does not work here.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T08:57:13.537Z
@fefe, #1: Why both works? #4: Yeah, 原来 seems the most logical answer here, my answer should be correct here.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-02T12:59:00.047Z
@Reynaldi If I can answer why, I would have written an answer.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T04:43:57.153Z
@user6065, After carefully looking to your explanation, it seems their meaning are same when they act as an adverb (both meaning `以前、从前`). That means both `原来` and `本来` should be okay on sentence #1 and #2. Sentence #4 match with your explanation `不同 （3）`, so `原来` should be fit. Sentence #3 match with your explanation `不同 （1）`, you said there's a slight difference if it acts as adjective. Which one you think is the appropriate one to fill in the blanks for sentence #3? Your explanation seems very good, it would be nice if you make it as an answer.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T06:25:30.700Z
@Reynaldi you really asked a very hard question. I thought hard of it, but still could not find a perfect way to explain it. Native speakers can distinct them by intuition, but it's really hard to rule it out. I think your question deserves more upvotes than what it is now to attract more great answers.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T08:44:51.980Z
@Reynaldi I add some update in my answer. Hopefully it could help.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T09:10:05.570Z
@dan Thank you, I'll take a look at it. I never thought this would be such a hard question. Such various answers are also making this question even more complicated.
Reynaldi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-13T06:08:53.563Z
Note: there's a Chinese Grammar Wiki page: [Comparing "benlai" and "yuanlai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22benlai%22_and_%22yuanlai%22)
Becky 李蓓
<grammar><difference>
What is the difference between 本来 and 原来?
# What is the difference between 本来 and 原来?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-02)

I was learning in a Mandarin class and I was kind of stumped on the use of "本来" and "原来" when filling in the blanks in a sentence. Here's my attempt to these questions (taken from 汉语口语速成: 基础篇 pp. 91-92):

> 1. 这儿\_\_\_\_是个冰场，现在盖起了高楼。(My answer was "原来", the answer is **can be both**.)
> 2. 回国的日子\_\_\_\_定在下月二十号，可是因为没有买到机票，就改到二十七号了。(My answer was "本来", the answer is "**本来**".)
> 3. 这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾\_\_\_\_\_的味道都没有了。(My answer was "本来", the answer is "**原来**")
> 4. 我找了你半天，\_\_\_\_你在这儿呀。(My answer was "原来", the answer is **can be both**.)

There's no problem with the sentence #2 and #3. I got it right on the second sentence. I got it wrong on the third sentence, since I just know that "原来" can be used as an adjective, and the speaker already realized that the taste of the food is not good, hence my mistake.

What makes me confused is the answer of #1 and #4, is it true that either "本来" or "原来" correct in sentence #1 and #4? I thought only one of them can fit.

From what I understand from [Chinese Grammar Wiki](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22benlai%22_and_%22yuanlai%22) and some Chinese movies, my thinking is this:

> I'm using “本来” when something unexpectedly happened, and the speaker doesn't realize until it happens. But if the speaker accidentally find out or realize the situation has changed, I should use “原来”.

Is my thinking true? If not, then on which case should I use "本来" or "原来"?

**UPDATE:** Here's another example I got from a movie:

> 丁鐺："你們晚上沒演出啊?"
>
> 藍雲："沒有，最近演白天，你一個人來?"
>
> 丁鐺："是的，**本來**我要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天。"

The speaker use "本来" here, can it be changed to "原来"?

**Tags:** grammar, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 1: yeah, both works, but I prefer 原来。4: No, 本来 does not work here.  
> **username_0**: @username_1, #1: Why both works? #4: Yeah, 原来 seems the most logical answer here, my answer should be correct here.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 If I can answer why, I would have written an answer.  
> **username_0**: @user6065, After carefully looking to your explanation, it seems their meaning are same when they act as an adverb (both meaning `以前、从前`). That means both `原来` and `本来` should be okay on sentence #1 and #2. Sentence #4 match with your explanation `不同 （3）`, so `原来` should be fit. Sentence #3 match with your explanation `不同 （1）`, you said there's a slight difference if it acts as adjective. Which one you think is the appropriate one to fill in the blanks for sentence #3? Your explanation seems very good, it would be nice if you make it as an answer.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 you really asked a very hard question. I thought hard of it, but still could not find a perfect way to explain it. Native speakers can distinct them by intuition, but it's really hard to rule it out. I think your question deserves more upvotes than what it is now to attract more great answers.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I add some update in my answer. Hopefully it could help.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Thank you, I'll take a look at it. I never thought this would be such a hard question. Such various answers are also making this question even more complicated.  
> **username_3**: Note: there's a Chinese Grammar Wiki page: [Comparing "benlai" and "yuanlai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22benlai%22_and_%22yuanlai%22)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-02. Score: 2

> '本来' means 'original/ **originally**/ at first'

For example: "我**本来**不想去的" (**originally**, I didn't want to go )

> '原来'(the truth from the origin) means '**actually**' /**as it turns out**

For example:

"**原来**你不想去" (you **actually**/ don't want to go)/(**as it turns out**, you don't want to go)

"**原来**你沒錢去" (you **actually** don't have money to go)/ (**as it turns out**, you don't have money to go

> '原本' = '本来'

For example: "我**原本**不想去的" (**originally**, I didn't want to go)

* 这儿(本来/原本)是个冰场，现在盖起了高楼。
* 回国的日子(本来/原本)定在下月二十号，可是因为没有买到机票，就改到二十七号了。
* 这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾(*本来的/ 原本的*)味道都没有了。(*the original taste*)/ 这盘虾炒得太咸了，虾(*原来的*)味道都没有了。(the *actual* taste)
* 我找了你半天，(原来)你在这儿呀。

*Many people use 原来 instead of 原本 when they meant "originally" because they think 原来 and 原本 are the same*

> 原本" = “本來” ; "原來 = 其實

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: In fact, in my thinking, 本来 has the sense of meaning "actually". Am I right? I didn't know there's a word "原本", though, that's interesting.  
> **username_4**: Some people also confuse 本来 with 原来 when they meant 'actually' . Just remember 原来 means 'actually' ; 本来 means 'originally'  
> **username_0**: `Many people use 原来 instead of 原本 when they meant "originally" because they think 原来 and 原本 are the same` Is "原本" = “本来” = "原来" then?  
> **username_4**: 原本" = “本来” ; "原来 = 其实  
> **username_0**: You gave the answer `本来/原本` on sentence #1 and #2. Can they be changed to `原来`?  
> **username_4**: @username_0 No, 原来 means 'actually', "这儿(原来)是个冰场" would mean "It is actually a skate ring" or "as it turned out, it is a skate ring. Not " it was originally a skate ring as in "这儿(本来/原本)是个冰场"  
> **username_4**: One more examples  of 本来 vs. 原来-  (1) "本来你不用去" (originally, you didn't need to go) ; (2)"原来你沒有去" ( as it turned out, you didn't go)  
> **username_2**: The normal interpretation: 这儿原来是个冰场 means "it was a skate ring before/originally". 这原来是个冰厂啊！ sounds like you don't know it is a skate ring, but now you find it.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-02. Score: 1

In my opinion, 1,2,3 can be both. 4 should be filled with 原来.

原来 could be used when you don't know something and then you find it out all of sudden. For example, 原来是你啊！ 原来是你干的啊！
本来 can't be used for this sense.

Most of time they are interchangeable.

In your update sentence, 本来 is preferable, and 原来 is not that good. But if you put 原来 in the middle (丁鐺："是的，我原来要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天,) that will be ok. This might be because if you put 原来 at the beginning of an sentence, that sounds you have found something all of sudden, which you didn't know. But actually you want to convey the sense **originally**.

I guess the **key** might be they are interchangeable within a sentence, but not at the beginning of a sentence!

> 丁鐺："是的，本來我要去百代試音的，但是我弄錯了日期，是明天。

**Update**

I feel this dictionary definition are accurate:

**本来**

> 1. 原来，原先。
>
> 杨朔《京城漫记》：“这地方在北京南城角，本来是京城有名的风景区。”
>
> 2 . 原有的。
>
> 本来面目。
>
> 3 .指人本有的心性。
>
> 黄人《〈小说林〉发刊词》：“心理之辟，尤在昧厥本来。”
>
> 4 .表示理该如此。
>
> 本来就该这么办

**原来**

> 1 . 当初；未经改变的。
>
> 周而复《上海的早晨》：“阿英给奶奶提醒，立即退了回来，把脸盆放在床上原来的地方接水。”
>
> 2 . 副词。表示发现从前不知道的情况。
>
> 魏巍《东方》：“郭祥勉强睁开眼睛，原来担架停在一面悬崖下。”

I think this should help you a lot if you can understand those definitions in Chinese.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Okay, now I'm getting more confused. Could you explain why you say sentence #1 ~ #3 can be both?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 sorry for the confusion. I'm not sure what you have learnt. In practice, they are interchangeable most of time. The only case where you can't use 本来 is the one I put it in my answer. As of now, I can not really think of other cases where you can only use one over the other. If you have more examples, I can help you to analysis. Good luck! :)  
> **username_0**: I see. Yeah, when I check in dictionary, both of them mean "original / originally". I'm curious what makes them different. I've edited the question for another example.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I updated my answer based on your new example. Hope it could help you out.  
> **username_0**: Thanks. `我原来要去……` seems makes sense to me.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the update. I think I get the definition of `原来`. I don't quite understand on 3rd meaning of `本来`, does it mean “one's native”? Most of the definition of `本来`, though, seems pretty much the same as `原来`.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 only the first definition of 本来 is the same as 原来. The third definition of 本来: 指人本有的心性,  you can ignore it because we it's only for traditional Chinese.  
> **username_0**: Based on your definition, can I just say that `本来` can be exchanged with `原来`, but `原来` may not always be exchanged with `本来`?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 that's not very accurate. They are only interchangeable when meaning sense 1, *original*. 本来 has another 2 usages which can't be replaced with 原来. In definition 2, 本来面目 and definition 4 本来就该这么办. You can't replace 本来 with 原来 in those two phrases. Well, the definition 2 of 原来,  表示发现从前不知道的情况, you can't use 本来 for this sense as well.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 even in the sense 1 *original*, there is still a nuance, 原来 has the sense of 当初；未经改变的, referring to the definition 1 of 原来. Well, 本来 connotes what the thing should be originally, usually referring to its 'nature'. In the example of 把脸盆放在床上原来的地方接水, 原来 would sound better than 本来 here, because it denotes the sense of *unchanged*.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 sometimes, the nuance in definition 1 is not that important, that's why we can use them interchangeably. Back to your original 4 examples, 1 & 2 can be roughly both. For 3,  本来 sounds better, because 虾本来的味道都没有了 talks about  虾 itself, its 'nature' taste. Well, 虾原来的味道 sounds that originally (in the past or before you put the salt) 虾 taste like. So, that's why I said both can be used for 3, but actually 本来 is more preferable. 4 is very obvious, it should be 原来 as it falls the definition 2 表示发现从前不知道的情况. Hope this could help you out!  

---

