Difference between revisions of "Expressing "never" with "conglai""
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| − | + | * 我 <em>从没</em> 学 <em>过</em> 这 个 词 。 <span class="expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cóngméi</em> xué <em>guo</em> zhè ge cí.</span> <span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span> | |
| − | * | + | * 很多 中国人 <em>从来 没 </em> 出 <em> 过</em> 国 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cónglái méi</em> chū <em> guo</em> guó.</span> <span class="trans">A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.</span> |
| − | + | * 你 <em>从来 没有</em> 想 <em>过</em> 这 个 问题 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> xiǎng <em>guo</em> zhè ge wèntí.</span> <span class="trans">Have you never thought about this problem?</span> | |
| − | * | + | * 她 <em>从来 没</em> 见 <em>过</em> 她妈妈。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cónglái méi</em> jiàn <em>guo</em> tāmāma.</span> <span class="trans">She has never seen her mother.</span> |
| − | * 她 <em>从来 没 | + | * 你们 <em>从来 没有</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> tīngshuō <em>guo</em> zhè ge dìfang ma?</span> <span class="trans">Have you never before heard about this place?</span> |
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Revision as of 01:36, 14 October 2015
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Keywords
Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually used when you want to express that you never do something (as a habit, or as a rule), or that you have never done something (it's not a part of your life experience). In either usages, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
Contents
"To never do" with 从来不
Structure
When you follow 从来 (cónglái) with 不 (bù), you are expressing that you never do something (as a habit, or as a rule). It's often used as a way to refuse something, as in "I never drink."
Subj. + 从来 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]
Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in a casual setting.
Examples
- 她 从来 不 喝 酒。 She never drinks.
- 我 女朋友 从 不 给 我 打 电话。来 has been omitted here. My girlfriend never gives me a call.
- 这 个 人 很 奇怪，他 从来 不 笑。 This person is very strange.He never laughs.
- 你 父母 从来 不 打 你 吗 ？
- 他 从 不 关心 别人。 来 has been omitted here. He never cares about others.
"To have never done" with 从来没
Structure
Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) (and 过 (guò) after the verb) to indicate that you have never done something (it's not a part of your life experience). You're talking about the past now, because you're talking about what you haven't done before, so 没有 (méiyǒu) is appropriate. 过 (guò) also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.
Subj. + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过
Again, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech. Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 (guò) needs to come immediately after the verb.
Examples
- 我 从没 学 过 这 个 词 。 来 has been omitted here. I have never before studied this word.
- 很多 中国人 从来 没 出 过 国 。 A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.
- 你 从来 没有 想 过 这 个 问题 吗？ Have you never thought about this problem?
- 她 从来 没 见 过 她妈妈。 She has never seen her mother.
- 你们 从来 没有 听说 过 这 个 地方 吗？ Have you never before heard about this place?
See also
- Expressing experiences with "guo"
- Comparing "bu" and "mei"
- "meiyou" as a Verb
- Standard negation with "bu"
- "Always" with "conglai"
Sources and further reading
Books
- BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上) (p.40) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (p. 59) →buy
Websites
- Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 从来
