<p>The interpretation of 我本來 and 衹是 are fine.</p>

<ul>
<li>抱着 (literally <em>to hug</em>, but should be interpreted as <em>to grasp onto</em>)</li>
<li>試一試的想法 (a thought of just trying)</li>
<li>參加比賽的 (to participate in a competition)</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>我本來衹是抱着試一試的想法去參加比賽的</p>
  
  <p><em>I originally participated in the competition holding on to the thought of just giving it a go</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T13:55:42.000Z
Is there also a 是。。 的 construction here? Or is 只是 a word itself?
金允雄Oliver
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T14:02:56.007Z
@金允雄Oliver 只是 in your sentence means *only*.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T13:54:04.470Z
2018-07-26T14:03:52.627Z
2018-07-26T14:03:52.627Z
dROOOze
<p>From your comments the only thing you're missing is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>抱着....的想法</p>
</blockquote>

<p>To hold a [certain] idea.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T13:51:36.573Z
2018-07-26T13:51:36.573Z
Mou某
<p>我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的， 没想到居然获得了冠军。 这不但让朋友感到吃惊而且让父母很高兴。</p>

<p>I found this sentence difficult to understand mostly because of 我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的 and don't know how to break it down.</p>

<p>我本来 I originally
只是 only?
抱着试一试的想法 hug and try at the same time? thoughts?
参加比赛的 attend the game</p>

<p>Obviously, I am in a mess and need some clearing up.</p>

<p>Thank you. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T15:29:30.577Z
**bkrs** ：抱 (8) 怀藏, 心里存有 [cherish] **iciba** ：不抱幻想了was soon disillusioned，抱同情 sympathetic  抱憾 regret;be sorry 心存遗憾， 抱恨  have a gnawing regret 心中怀有恨事， 抱恨终天 harbor an eternal sorrow 终天:终其天年,即终生。指心存怨恨难消,直到死
user6065
<grammar>
Help with sentence construction
# Help with sentence construction

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-26)

我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的， 没想到居然获得了冠军。 这不但让朋友感到吃惊而且让父母很高兴。

I found this sentence difficult to understand mostly because of 我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的 and don't know how to break it down.

我本来 I originally
只是 only?
抱着试一试的想法 hug and try at the same time? thoughts?
参加比赛的 attend the game

Obviously, I am in a mess and need some clearing up.

Thank you.

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: **bkrs** ：抱 (8) 怀藏, 心里存有 [cherish] **iciba** ：不抱幻想了was soon disillusioned，抱同情 sympathetic  抱憾 regret;be sorry 心存遗憾， 抱恨  have a gnawing regret 心中怀有恨事， 抱恨终天 harbor an eternal sorrow 终天:终其天年,即终生。指心存怨恨难消,直到死  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The interpretation of 我本來 and 衹是 are fine.

* 抱着 (literally *to hug*, but should be interpreted as *to grasp onto*)
* 試一試的想法 (a thought of just trying)
* 參加比賽的 (to participate in a competition)

> 我本來衹是抱着試一試的想法去參加比賽的
>
> *I originally participated in the competition holding on to the thought of just giving it a go*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there also a 是。。 的 construction here? Or is 只是 a word itself?  
> **username_3**: @username_0 只是 in your sentence means *only*.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-07-26. Score: 0

From your comments the only thing you're missing is:

> 抱着....的想法

To hold a [certain] idea.


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