City University of Hong Kong CLASS CLASS
Making Sense of Grammar
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asked Sep 28, 2020 in Questions about Chinese Grammar by Mickey (7,360 points) | 245 views

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1. 其实 is used to express what the speaker following words conform to reality, and always indicate the former views or statements are contrary to fact. For example,

2. 原来has two grammatical functions.

First, as a noun, 原来 means ‘the original’/ ‘the former period of time’/ ‘before’.

For example:

1)来(lái)我(wǒ)很(hěn)忙(máng),现(xiàn)在(zài)我(wǒ)很(hěn)无(wú)聊(liáo)。

     I was busy before, now I feel boring.

Second, as an adverb, 原来 means ‘out of anticipation’. For example,

2)原(yuán)来(lái)你(nǐ)的(de)能(néng)力(lì)这(zhè)么(me)强(qiáng),我(wǒ)以(yǐ)为(wéi)你(nǐ)不(bú)会(huì)这(zhè)些(xiē)技(jì)能(néng)。

     You are so capable, I mistakenly thought you didn’t have these skills.

3. Therefore, 其实 means ‘the fact is that’ while 原来 means ‘it is out of the anticipation’. As 原来 means ‘out of anticipation’, it is always used to express one’s surprise, so 原来 often match with 这(zhè)么(me).
answered Sep 28, 2020 by Mickey (7,360 points)

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