How to use 原来
Former state with 原来(的) / New information with 原来
原来 can refer to how something was originally or previously. Before a predicate, it establishes an earlier situation, often contrasted with a later change. With 的 before a noun, it describes a former or original person, thing, arrangement, or quality. The surrounding clause explains what has changed or remained relevant.
Another use introduces a realization: the speaker has discovered that something is different from what they believed. English may use “it turns out” or an expression of sudden understanding. The fact discovered may have been true all along, but the discovery is new to the speaker. Identify whether 原来 locates an earlier state or marks newly recognized information before choosing its English meaning.
Examples with pinyin and English
你原来的发型也很可爱。
Your original hairstyle was also very cute.
这件衣服原来的价格是 999 块。
The original price of this piece of clothing was 999 RMB.
她们原来只是邻居，现在是很好的朋友。
Originally they were just neighbors. Now they're very good friends.
我们原来住在浦东，几个月以前搬到了这里。
Originally we lived in Pudong. We moved here a few months ago.
What to remember
- Use 原来的 to modify a noun.
- Before predicates, it may describe a former state.
- Realization uses mark a new understanding.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.