本来: Original Situation or Plan in Chinese
本来
本来 presents the original situation, expectation, or plan, often before a contrasting change introduced later. As an adverb it normally appears before the predicate it frames. It does not itself mark completion, so an aspect particle belongs with the relevant verb or at the end of the changed-situation clause.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 本来 + Predicate, (but...) changed outcome
Read the structure
本来 presents the original situation, expectation, or plan, often before a contrasting change introduced later. As an adverb it normally appears before the predicate it frames. It does not itself mark completion, so an aspect particle belongs with the relevant verb or at the end of the changed-situation clause. Keep the model Subject + 本来 + Predicate, (but...) changed outcome visible while you compare each sentence.
我本来想坐地铁，但是已经太晚了。
I originally planned to take the subway, but it was already too late.
Choose the right context
Introduce an original plan that later changed. Correct a mistaken assumption about the initial situation. Contrast what was expected with what actually happened.
会议本来在星期一举行。
The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday.
Respect the boundary
Do not attach 了 directly to 本来. Do not place 本来 inside a time noun phrase. Do not use it when no original state, expectation, or plan is relevant.
我本来了想坐地铁。
(I originally-le wanted to take the subway.)
Repair the pattern
了 is attached to the adverb: 本来 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了. 本来 is inserted into the time phrase: 本来 modifies the whole original arrangement and must precede the predicate 在星期一举行.
我本来想坐地铁。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我本来想坐地铁，但是已经太晚了。
I originally planned to take the subway, but it was already too late.
我
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
本来
本来
This part occupies the 本来 position in the model pattern.
想坐
Predicate, (but...) changed outcome
This part occupies the Predicate, (but...) changed outcome position in the model pattern.
地铁
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
，
本来
This part occupies the 本来 position in the model pattern.
但是
Predicate, (but...) changed outcome
This part occupies the Predicate, (but...) changed outcome position in the model pattern.
已经
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
太晚
本来
This part occupies the 本来 position in the model pattern.
了
Predicate, (but...) changed outcome
This part occupies the Predicate, (but...) changed outcome position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我本来想坐地铁，但是已经太晚了。
I originally planned to take the subway, but it was already too late.
会议本来在星期一举行。
The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday.
这本书本来是他的。
This book originally belonged to him.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Introduce an original plan that later changed.
- Correct a mistaken assumption about the initial situation.
- Contrast what was expected with what actually happened.
Do not use it when
- Do not attach 了 directly to 本来.
- Do not place 本来 inside a time noun phrase.
- Do not use it when no original state, expectation, or plan is relevant.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我本来了想坐地铁。
我本来想坐地铁。
了 is attached to the adverb
本来 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了.
会议在本来星期一举行。
会议本来在星期一举行。
本来 is inserted into the time phrase
本来 modifies the whole original arrangement and must precede the predicate 在星期一举行.
我本来了想坐地铁。
本来 is an adverb and cannot take the aspect particle 了.
会议在本来星期一举行。
本来 modifies the whole original arrangement and must precede the predicate 在星期一举行.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 本来.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 本来. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
本来: Original Situation or Plan Questions
Does 本来 require 但是?
No. A contrast is common, but context may already supply the later change.
Where does 本来 go?
It normally precedes the predicate that describes the original situation or plan.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三14】, 时间副词：本来…
Supports placement in HSK 3; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 12, §§12.1–12.4, adverb position and frequently used adverbs
Places temporal and stance adverbs before the predicate or unit they modify; 本来 frames an original state or expectation.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
却却: Unexpected Contrast
Compare this lesson with 却 marking a result that contrasts with the prior context; both belong to expectation, contrast, and unexpected development, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
按说按说: What Should Normally Be Expected
Compare this lesson with 按说 introducing what should follow from available grounds; both belong to expectation, contrast, and unexpected development, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
不料不料: Unexpectedly
Compare this lesson with 不料 introducing an outcome the speaker did not anticipate; both belong to expectation, contrast, and unexpected development, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Continue learning
了了 (le): Completed Actions
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.