我本来想去，但是太忙了 (wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù, dànshì tài máng le) — "I originally planned to go, but was too busy." When plans change in real life, 本来 (běnlái) lets you set up what you originally intended, then pivot with 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 (kěshì) to explain what went differently.
Place 本来 (běnlái) before the verb to establish your original plan or expectation. The key sentence for this lesson is 我本来打算这个周末去爬山，可是突然接到一个紧急任务 (wǒ běnlái dǎsuàn zhè ge zhōumò qù páshān, kěshì tūrán jiēdào yí ge jǐnjí rènwu) — "I originally planned to go hiking this weekend, but I suddenly got an urgent assignment." You can also add 就 (jiù) after 本来 to express that something is inherently or always supposed to be a certain way.
This live conversation lesson, titled "Plans Gone Wrong," targets 本来 (běnlái) specifically. You talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time — voice, not typing. Over roughly 10 minutes, you practice explaining how your original plans turned out differently from reality, expressing frustration when plans change, and asserting that something was inherently supposed to be a certain way. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.
This lesson is part of our broader set of HSK 6 lessons. To explore related advanced patterns, try another HSK 6 live lesson on negative consequences with 以致 (yǐzhì) or a lesson on scope and impact with 以至 (yǐzhì).
The first lesson is free to start, so you can begin talking right away. To reinforce what you learn, you can also print handwriting worksheets with our free Chinese worksheet generator.
本来 (běnlái) means "originally" or "inherently." You place it before the verb to describe what you originally planned or expected, then follow with 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 (kěshì) to explain what changed. For example, 我本来想去，但是太忙了 (wǒ běnlái xiǎng qù, dànshì tài máng le) means "I originally planned to go, but was too busy."
"Plans Gone Wrong" is a live voice lesson where you talk with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time. It targets 本来 (běnlái) specifically and takes about 10 minutes. You practice explaining how your original plans turned out differently from what happened, expressing frustration when plans change, and stating that something was always supposed to be a certain way.
Yes. Adding 就 (jiù) after 本来 (běnlái) expresses that something is inherently or always supposed to be a certain way. This is a second use of the pattern beyond describing changed plans, and the lesson covers both meanings so you can distinguish when to use each one.