以为 · 原来
以为: thought (but it turned out to be wrong) · 原来: so it turns out; originally, the original …
Structure
主语 + 以为 + 句子 ，原来 + 句子 · 原来 + 的 + 名词 · 主语 + 原来 + 是……
What it means
以为 means “thought”, about something that turned out wrong. 原来 means “so it turns out”, or “originally, before”: 原来的房子 “the house that used to be here”.
How it is built
Subject + 以为 + clause，原来 + the truth: 我以为今天是星期五，原来是星期四 (I thought it was Friday, but it’s Thursday). 原来 + 的 + noun: 原来的小商店 (the shop that used to be here).
When to use it
In the “originally” sense 原来 is close to 本来: 这儿原来是土路. Only 原来 means “so it turns out”, and then it usually starts the sentence: 原来是这样！ (So that’s it!)
Watch out
For a plain opinion use 觉得 or 认为, not 以为: 我觉得这个菜很好吃 is “I think it’s delicious”, but 我以为这个菜很好吃 means you thought so and were wrong.
Examples
我以为今天是星期五，原来是星期四。
I thought it was Friday today, but it turns out it’s Thursday.
我以为他是老师，原来他也是学生。
I thought he was a teacher; it turns out he’s a student too.
原来的小商店没有了，现在是一家超市。
The little shop that used to be here has gone; now it’s a supermarket.
这儿原来是一片草地。
This used to be a patch of grass.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 26: 我都不认得了 (I hardly recognise it)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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