本来就是个孤岛
“is an isolated island to begin with.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
这个三灶岛
“This Sanzao Island”
本来就是个孤岛
“is an isolated island to begin with.”
人口稀少
“Its population is sparse.”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
Chinese speakers frequently invoke '本来' to ground an argument in indisputable natural conditions, shutting down unrealistic expectations.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
was originally / is inherently in the first place
Use this pattern to emphasize an inherent, pre-existing fact or common-sense reality.
isolated island
Can refer literally to an island cut off from navigation, or metaphorically to a helpless, alienated situation.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“should have belonged to me.”
“I grew up on an island.”
“as long as you don't leave me,”
“you are still single.”
“You've always been like this.”
“the isolated stone is always the first to fall.”