Help with sentence construction

Question

我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的， 没想到居然获得了冠军。 这不但让朋友感到吃惊而且让父母很高兴。

I found this sentence difficult to understand mostly because of 我本来只是抱着试一试的想法去参加比赛的 and don't know how to break it down.

我本来 I originally 只是 only? 抱着试一试的想法 hug and try at the same time? thoughts? 参加比赛的 attend the game

Obviously, I am in a mess and need some clearing up.

Thank you.

Answer 1

The interpretation of 我本來 and 衹是 are fine.

• 抱着 (literally to hug, but should be interpreted as to grasp onto)
• 試一試的想法 (a thought of just trying)
• 參加比賽的 (to participate in a competition)

我本來衹是抱着試一試的想法去參加比賽的

I originally participated in the competition holding on to the thought of just giving it a go

Answer 2

From your comments the only thing you're missing is:

抱着....的想法

To hold a [certain] idea.