originally; formerly; at first
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
formerly; previously; the original state
neutralRefers to a state, time, or plan that existed before a change occurred. It can describe the past or the initial condition.
Zhào照
yuán原
xiān先
de的
jì计
huà划
zuò做
，
bù不
yào要
gǎi改
dòng动
。
Carry out the work according to the original plan; don't make changes.
Tā他
yuán原
xiān先
shì是
gè个
wén文
máng盲
，
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
chéng成
le了
yè业
yú余
zuò作
jiā家
。
He was originally illiterate, but now he has become an amateur writer.
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Wǒ我
yuán原
xiān先
zhù住
zài在
Shàng上
hǎi海
，
hòu后
lái来
bān搬
dào到
le了
Běi北
jīng京
。
I used to live in Shanghai, but later I moved to Beijing.
Zhè这
gè个
dì地
fang方
yuán原
xiān先
shì是
yī一
piàn片
huāng荒
dì地
。
This place was originally a wasteland.
Wǒ我
men们
yuán原
xiān先
bù不
rèn认
shi识
，
shì是
péng朋
you友
jiè介
shào绍
de的
。
We didn't know each other originally; we were introduced by a friend.