汉语中“本来”可能有多层意思:比如它可能指“过去”(如:本来很多,现在一个也没有了);也可能指“应该”(如:我本来应该和你一同去,事实上,我现在忙得走不了);还可能指“目前的实际情况”(如:时间本来就很宝贵,且不说还要应付不受欢迎的访客);等等。如:
I was really brave, but he said that I was not. 我本来很勇敢,但他却说我不勇敢。
He used to very brave, but after that, he's become a coward now. 他本来很勇敢的,但经过那件事后,他变得胆小了。
Mother says I must be brave, but I say I'm really brave. 妈妈说我必须要勇敢些,但我说我本来很勇敢啊。