原来 (yuánlái) — originally; as it turns out

原来 (yuánlái)

原来 has two main uses: describing the original or former state of something, and expressing a realization or discovery ("so it turns out that...").

Meanings

1. [adverb] originally; formerly (describing a past state)
2. [adverb] as it turns out; so... (expressing a realization)

Example Sentences

原来他就是那个有名的作家！ Yuánlái tā jiù shì nàgè yǒumíng de zuòjiā! So he is that famous writer after all!

这里原来是一片森林，现在变成了城市。 Zhèlǐ yuánlái shì yī piàn sēnlín, xiànzài biànchéng le chéngshì. This place was originally a forest; now it has become a city.

我以为你不喜欢音乐，原来你会弹吉他！ Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ bù xǐhuān yīnyuè, yuánlái nǐ huì tán jítā! I thought you did not like music; it turns out you can play guitar!

原来的计划被取消了，我们换了新方案。 Yuánlái de jìhuà bèi qǔxiāo le, wǒmen huàn le xīn fāng'àn. The original plan was cancelled and we switched to a new one.

Collocations

Memory Hook

原 means "original/source" and 来 means "come" — 原来 brings you back to the original point, either what was there before or the true story that has now come to light.