Difference between revisions of "Expressing "once" with "cengjing""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
曾经 (céngjīng) is an [[adverb]], and as such comes before verb phrases in a sentence. It adds the sense of "once" having happened (not the "one time" meaning of "once"), sometimes translated as "ever." It frequently pairs with 过.
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曾经 (céngjīng) is an [[adverb]], and as such comes before verb phrases in a sentence. It adds the sense of "once" having happened (the "once upon a time" meaning of "once"), sometimes translated as "ever." It frequently pairs with 过.
  
 
== Used with 过 ==
 
== Used with 过 ==
  
When used with action verbs, 曾经 comes before the verb, and that same verb is followed by 过. For [[psychological verb]]s, the 过 is optional.
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When used with action verbs, 曾经 comes before the verb, which is then followed by 过. For [[psychological verb]]s, the 过 is optional.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我们 <em>曾经</em> 一起 去 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="trans">We've once been there together.</span>
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*我们 <em>曾经</em> 一起 去 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>céngjīng</em> yīqǐ qù <strong>guò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We once went there together.</span>
*他 说 他 <em>曾经</em> 做 <strong>过</strong> 很多 傻事 。<span class="trans">He said that he once did a lot of stupid things.</span>
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*他 说 他 <em>曾经</em> 做 <strong>过</strong> 很多 傻事 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō tā <em>céngjīng</em> zuò <strong>guò</strong> hěn duō shǎ shì.</span><span class="trans">He said that he once did a lot of stupid things.</span>
*我 <em>曾经</em> 喜欢 <strong>过</strong> 你 。<span class="trans">I once liked you.</span>
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*我 <em>曾经</em> 喜欢 <strong>过</strong> 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>céngjīng</em> xǐhuan <strong>guò</strong> nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I once liked you.</span>
*她 <em>曾经</em> <strong>想</strong> 当 演员 ,后来 成 了 全职太太 。<span class="trans">She once wanted to become an actress. She became a full time wife afterwards.</span>
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*她 <em>曾经</em> <strong>想</strong> 当 演员 ,后来 成 了 全职太太 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>xiǎng</strong> dāng yǎnyuán, hòulái chéng le quánzhí tàitai.</span><span class="trans">She once wanted to become an actress. She later became a stay-at-home mom.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*为了 找 亲生 父母 ,她 <em>曾经</em> 花 <strong>了</strong> 很多钱 。<span class="trans">In order to find her biological parents, she once spent lots of money.</span>
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*为了 找 亲生 父母 ,她 <em>曾经</em> 花 <strong>了</strong> 很 多 钱 <span class="pinyin">Wèile zhǎo qīnshēng fùmǔ, tā <em>céngjīng</em> huā <strong>le</strong> hěn duō qián.</span><span class="trans">In order to find her biological parents, she once spent a lot of money.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*我们 都 <em>曾经</em> 年轻 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="trans">We were all once young.</span>
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*我们 都 <em>曾经</em> 年轻 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>céngjīng</em> niánqīng <strong>guò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">We were all young once.</span>
*他 的 音乐 <em>曾经</em> 流行 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="trans">His musician was once popular.</span>
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*他 的 音乐 <em>曾经</em> 流行 <strong>过</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de yīnyuè <em>céngjīng</em> liúxíng <strong>guò</strong>.</span><span class="trans">His music was once popular.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Used without 过 ==
 
== Used without 过 ==
  
When used with the verbs [[是]], [[在]], and [[有]] (all related to existence rather than actions), 过 is generally not used.
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When used with the verbs [[是]], [[在]], and [[有]] (all related to ''existence'' rather than actions), 过 is generally '''not''' used.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*他 <em>曾经</em> <strong>是</strong> 我 老板 。<span class="trans">He was once my boss.</span>
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*他 <em>曾经</em> <strong>是</strong> 我 老板 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>shì</strong> wǒ lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">He was once my boss.</span>
*这里 <em>曾经</em> <strong>是</strong> 一个 学校 。<span class="trans">It was once a school here.</span>
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*这里 <em>曾经</em> <strong>是</strong> 一个 学校 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>shì</strong> yī gè xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">There was once a school here.</span>
</div>
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*市政府 <em>曾经</em> <strong>在</strong> 我们 家 旁边 。<span class="pinyin">Shì zhèngfǔ <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>zài</strong> wǒmen jiā pángbiān.</span><span class="trans">The municipal government [building] was once next to our house.</span>
 
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*他 的 墓 <em>曾经</em> <strong>在</strong> 国外 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de mù <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>zài</strong> guówài.</span><span class="trans">His tomb was once overseas.</span>
<div class="liju">
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*她 <em>曾经</em> <strong>有</strong> 一个 西班牙 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>yǒu </strong> yī gè Xībānyá nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">She once had a Spanish boyfriend.</span>
*市政府 <em>曾经</em> <strong></strong> 我们 家 旁边 。<span class="trans">The city government was next to our house.</span>
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*他们 家 <em>曾经</em> <strong>有</strong> 很 多 钱 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen jiā <em>céngjīng</em> <strong>yǒu</strong> hěn duō qián.</span><span class="trans">Their family once had lots of money.</span>
*他 的 墓 <em>曾经</em> <strong>在</strong> 国外 。<span class="trans">His tomb was once abroad.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
*她 <em>曾经</em> <strong>有</strong> 一个 西班牙 男朋友 。<span class="trans">She once had a Spanish boyfriend.</span>
 
*他们 家 <em>曾经</em> <strong>有</strong> 很多钱 。<span class="trans">Their family once has lots of money.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Negative Form ==
 
== Negative Form ==
  
Because 过 is used to talk about past actions, it should be negated with 没 (méi). When you mean to say "I haven't done...ever" or "something hasn't happened ever," just say [[Expressing experiences with "guo"|没⋯⋯过]]. It is incorrect to use 没 or 不 to negate 曾经.
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Because [[]] is used to talk about past actions, it should be negated with [[]] (méi). When you mean to say "I haven't ever (done something)" or "(something) hasn't happened ever," just say [[Expressing experiences with "guo"|没⋯⋯过]]. It is incorrect to use 没 or 不 to negate 曾经.
  
 
Try not to say:
 
Try not to say:
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<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">我们 <em>不 曾经</em> 吵 <strong>过</strong> 架 。<span class="trans">We've never fought.</span></li>
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<li class="x">我们 <em>不 曾经</em> 吵 <strong>过</strong> 架 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù céngjīng</em> chǎo <strong>guò</strong> jià.</span><span class="trans">We've never argued.</span></li>
<li class="x">他们 一直 写信 ,<em>没 曾经</em> 见 <strong>过</strong> 面 。<span class="trans">They've been writing to each other, but they've never met.</span></li>
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<li class="x">他们 一直 写信 ,<em>没 曾经</em> 见 <strong>过</strong> 面 。 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen yīzhí xiěxìn, <em> méi céngjīng </em> jiàn <strong> guò </strong> miàn.</span><span class="trans">They've been writing letters to each other, but they've never met.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
不曾 and 未曾, however, can also  be used to express the above meaning, but they're more formal and thus used only in written language.  
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[[不曾]] (bùcéng) and [[未曾]] (wèicéng), however, can also  be used to express the above meaning, but they're more formal and thus used only in written language.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
不曾/ 未曾 + Verb + 过 + Obj.
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不曾 / 未曾 + Verb + 过 + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*他们 一直 写信 ,<em>不曾 </em> 见 <strong>过</strong> 面 。<span class="trans">They've been writing to each other, but they've never met.</span>
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*他们 一直 写信 ,<em>不曾 </em> 见 <strong>过</strong> 面 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen yīzhí xiě xìn, <em>bùcéng</em> jiàn <strong>guò</strong> miàn.</span><span class="trans">They've been writing letters to each other, but they've never met.</span>
*他 从小 就 没有 父母 ,<em>未曾</em> 感受 <strong>过</strong> 家庭 的 温暖 。<span class="trans">He's lost his parents since his childhood. He's never experienced the warmth of a family.</span>
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*他 从小 就 没有 父母 ,<em>未曾</em> 感受 <strong>过</strong> 家庭 的 温暖 。<span class="pinyin">Tā cóngxiǎo jiù méiyǒu fùmǔ, <em>wèicéng</em> gǎnshòu <strong>guò</strong> jiātíng de wēnnuǎn.</span><span class="trans">He's had no parents since he was very young. He's never experienced the warmth of a family.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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{{Basic Grammar|曾经|B2|Subj. + 曾经 + Verb + 过 (+ Obj.) |他 说 他 <em>曾经</em> 做 <strong>过</strong> 很多 傻事 。|grammar point|ASG16EF6}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|曾经|B2|Subj. + 曾经 + Verb + 过 (+ Obj.) |他 说 他 <em>曾经</em> 做 <strong>过</strong> 很多 傻事 。|grammar point|ASG16EF6}}
 
{{Rel char|过}}
 
{{Rel char|过}}
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{{Rel char|不曾}}
 +
{{Rel char|未曾}}
 
{{Similar|Before a specific time with "yiqian"}}
 
{{Similar|Before a specific time with "yiqian"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"}}

Latest revision as of 07:39, 17 December 2020

曾经 (céngjīng) is an adverb, and as such comes before verb phrases in a sentence. It adds the sense of "once" having happened (the "once upon a time" meaning of "once"), sometimes translated as "ever." It frequently pairs with 过.

Used with 过

When used with action verbs, 曾经 comes before the verb, which is then followed by 过. For psychological verbs, the 过 is optional.

Structure

Subj. + 曾经 + Verb + 过 (+ Obj.)

Examples

  • 我们 曾经 一起 去 Wǒmen céngjīng yīqǐ qù guò.We once went there together.
  • 他 说 他 曾经 很多 傻事 。Tā shuō tā céngjīng zuò guò hěn duō shǎ shì.He said that he once did a lot of stupid things.
  • 曾经 喜欢 你 。céngjīng xǐhuan guò nǐ.I once liked you.
  • 曾经 当 演员 ,后来 成 了 全职太太 。céngjīng xiǎng dāng yǎnyuán, hòulái chéng le quánzhí tàitai.She once wanted to become an actress. She later became a stay-at-home mom.

Sometimes 曾经 is used with 了 rather than 过.

  • 为了 找 亲生 父母 ,她 曾经 很 多 钱 。Wèile zhǎo qīnshēng fùmǔ, tā céngjīng huā le hěn duō qián.In order to find her biological parents, she once spent a lot of money.

曾经 can also be used with some adjectives. In these cases, 过 is usually also used.

  • 我们 都 曾经 年轻 Wǒmen dōu céngjīng niánqīng guò.We were all young once.
  • 他 的 音乐 曾经 流行 Tā de yīnyuè céngjīng liúxíng guò.His music was once popular.

Used without 过

When used with the verbs , , and (all related to existence rather than actions), 过 is generally not used.

Structure

曾经 + 是 / 在 / 有 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 曾经 我 老板 。céngjīng shì wǒ lǎobǎn.He was once my boss.
  • 这里 曾经 一个 学校 。Zhèlǐ céngjīng shì yī gè xuéxiào.There was once a school here.
  • 市政府 曾经 我们 家 旁边 。Shì zhèngfǔ céngjīng zài wǒmen jiā pángbiān.The municipal government [building] was once next to our house.
  • 他 的 墓 曾经 国外 。Tā de mù céngjīng zài guówài.His tomb was once overseas.
  • 曾经 一个 西班牙 男朋友 。céngjīng yǒu yī gè Xībānyá nánpéngyou.She once had a Spanish boyfriend.
  • 他们 家 曾经 很 多 钱 。Tāmen jiā céngjīng yǒu hěn duō qián.Their family once had lots of money.

Negative Form

Because is used to talk about past actions, it should be negated with (méi). When you mean to say "I haven't ever (done something)" or "(something) hasn't happened ever," just say 没⋯⋯过. It is incorrect to use 没 or 不 to negate 曾经.

Try not to say:

  • 我们 不 曾经 架 。 Wǒmen bù céngjīng chǎo guò jià.We've never argued.
  • 他们 一直 写信 ,没 曾经 面 。 Tāmen yīzhí xiěxìn, méi céngjīng jiàn guò miàn.They've been writing letters to each other, but they've never met.

不曾 (bùcéng) and 未曾 (wèicéng), however, can also be used to express the above meaning, but they're more formal and thus used only in written language.

不曾 / 未曾 + Verb + 过 + Obj.

A few examples:

  • 他们 一直 写信 ,不曾 面 。Tāmen yīzhí xiě xìn, bùcéng jiàn guò miàn.They've been writing letters to each other, but they've never met.
  • 他 从小 就 没有 父母 ,未曾 感受 家庭 的 温暖 。Tā cóngxiǎo jiù méiyǒu fùmǔ, wèicéng gǎnshòu guò jiātíng de wēnnuǎn.He's had no parents since he was very young. He's never experienced the warmth of a family.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5