原来

原來

yuánlái

adverb HSK 2 #1,006

Meanings

1 originally
2 as it turns out
3 so that's how it is

Characters

Examples

原来是你！

Yuánlái shì nǐ!

So it was you!

他原来住在上海。

Tā yuánlái zhù zài Shànghǎi.

He originally lived in Shanghai.

原来你会说中文！

Yuánlái nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén!

Oh, so you can speak Chinese!

Tips

usage

原来 has two meanings: (1) 'originally/formerly' (他原来是老师 — He used to be a teacher), (2) 'so it turns out' expressing surprise or realization (原来如此！ — So that's how it is!).

Stroke Order

原 yuán

来 lái