本来 vs 原来 (originally vs it turns out)

An earlier state differs from a new discovery

You had intended to go, while a friend's identity has just become clear.
I我wǒoriginally本来běn láiwant想xiǎnggo去qù；so it turns out原来yuán láiis是shìyou你nǐ。 — originally本来běn lái marks the earlier intention and so it turns out原来yuán lái marks the discovery in these contexts.

Practice

You had intended to go, while a friend's identity has just become clear. What does 我本来想去；原来是你。 communicate?

原来 can never describe an original state.
本来 marks the earlier intention and 原来 marks the discovery in these contexts.

Build the form

The pattern in this lesson is originally本来běn lái vs so it turns out原来yuán lái (originally vs it turns out). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

I我wǒoriginally本来běn láiwant想xiǎnggo去qù的de。

Practice

Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I'd originally meant to go: 我 ____ 想去的。

Read examples in context

so it turns out原来yuán láiis是shìyou你nǐ！

In the opening example, I我wǒoriginally本来běn láiwant想xiǎnggo去qù；so it turns out原来yuán láiis是shìyou你nǐ。: originally本来běn lái marks the earlier intention and so it turns out原来yuán lái marks the discovery in these contexts.
Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Practice

Which means “oh, so it's you!” (a realisation)?

Know the boundary

so it turns out原来yuán lái can also mean originally, and originally本来běn lái can mark an inherent fact.
These useful examples are not mutually exclusive dictionary definitions.

Practice

原来 can express a sudden realisation.

Practice

In the opening situation: 本来 marks the earlier intention and 原来 marks the discovery in these contexts.

Use the distinction

Key idea

originally本来běn lái marks the earlier intention and so it turns out原来yuán lái marks the discovery in these contexts.
so it turns out原来yuán lái can also mean originally, and originally本来běn lái can mark an inherent fact. These useful examples are not mutually exclusive dictionary definitions.

Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Comparing similar adverbs.

Practice

You had intended to go, while a friend's identity has just become clear. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.