Difference between revisions of "Expressing "never" with "conglai""
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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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech. | 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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech. | ||
| − | == "To never do" with | + | == "To never do" with 从来 (cónglái) + 不 (bù) == |
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." | 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." | ||
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| − | == "To have never done" with | + | == "To have never done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu) == |
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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 09:06, 13 January 2017
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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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
Contents
"To never do" with 从来 (cónglái) + 不 (bù)
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."
Structure
The structure is:
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？ Your parents never hit you?
- 他 从 不 关心 别人。来 has been omitted here. He never cares about other people.
"To have never done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu)
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.
Structure
The structure is:
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
- 你 从来 没有 想 过 这 个 问题 吗？ Have you never thought about this question?
- 她 从来 没 见 过 她 妈妈。 She has never met her mother.
- 我 从没 学 过 这 个 词。来 has been omitted here. I have never before studied this word.
- 你们 从来 没有 听说 过 这 个 地方 吗？ Have you never heard about this place before?
- 很 多 中国人 从来 没 出 过 国。 A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.
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
