Difference between revisions of "Expressing "always" with "conglai""
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Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always (done)." | Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always (done)." | ||
Revision as of 03:45, 25 November 2013
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Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always (done)."
Contents
Structure with 都
Without the negative adverbs 不 and 没, 从来 takes on the meaning of "always." (Literally, 从来 means something like "from the beginning," although no one is really thinking that phrase when they use it.) When used in the positive, though, it is customary to put the adverb 都 after the 从来.
Subject + 从来 + 都 + Verb Phrase
Examples
- 她 从来 都 是 这样，自私 得 很 。He's always been like that, very selfish.
- 我 从来 都 是 一 个 人，已经 习惯 了.I have always been single, I'm used to it already.
- 他 从来 都 不 会 做饭 。I've never been able to cook (rice)
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词(p.132) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (p. 59) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 121) →buy
Websites
- Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 从来
