Tomyo
ruen

How to say “it turns out” in Chinese with 原来 (yuánlái)

Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate

原来 (yuán lái) — it turns out, originally

HSK 4Adverbs

Rule structure

原来 (yuánlái) here does not mean "original" but "as it turns out". It introduces a fact the speaker has just realized.

Examples

原来你就是王老师！

Yuánlái nǐ jiù shì Wáng lǎoshī!

So you are Teacher Wang!

原来她在这里工作。

Yuánlái tā zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò.

So she works here.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

原来

yuánlái

Originally, as it turns out

你

nǐ

You

就

jiù

Immediately, exactly, then, and... (adverb)

是

shì

To be, yes

老师

lǎoshī

Teacher

她

tā

She

在

zài

To be at/in, to exist

这里

zhèlǐ

Here

工作

gōngzuò

To work; work, job

我

wǒ

I, me

的

de

Possessive particle; modifier particle

朋友

péngyou

Friend

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “it turns out, originally” in Chinese with 原来?

Use the structure: Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate. For example: 原来你就是王老师！ — “So you are Teacher Wang!”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

原来你就是王老师！ — “So you are Teacher Wang!”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

Tomyo

Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews

Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.

Download the app

More HSK 4 grammar rules

千万 — don't, whatever you do

千万 (qiānwàn) + (别 (bié) / 不 (bù)) + Verb

正好 — just in time, coincidence

Subj. + 正好 (zhènghǎo) + Verb / Adj.

不得不 — have to, forced to

Subj. + 不得不 (bùdébù) + Verb Phrase

也 都 — also all

Subj. + 也 (yě) + 都 (dōu) + Verb

究竟 — in the end

究竟 (jiūjìng) + Question word / Question

恐怕 — I'm afraid that...

恐怕 (kǒngpà) + Clause

从来 — never in negative contexts

从来 (cónglái) + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + 不 (bù)/没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.

竟然 — unexpectedly

Subj. + 竟然 (jìngrán) + Verb / Adj.