Expressing "never" with "conglai"

Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually learned 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).

Structure with 不

When you follow 从来 with 不, 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."

Subject + 从 来不 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 她 对 酒 过敏，所以 从来 不 喝酒。
• 我 从来 不 喜欢 一 个 人 在 家。
• 他 从来 不 关心 别人，只 关心 自己。

Structure with 没

Use 从来 with 没 or 没有 (and 过 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 is appropriate. 过 also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.

Subject + 从来 没(有) + Verb + 过

Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 needs to come immediately after the verb.

Examples

• 我 从来 没 想 过 要 这样 做。
• 我 从来 没有 做 过 中国 菜。
• 他 酒量 很 好，从来 没 喝醉 过。

Structure with 都

从来 with the negative adverbs 不 and 没有 create the meaning of never, so as can be expected, without these negative adverbs, 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。
• 我 从来 都 是 一 个 人，已经 习惯 了。
• 他 从来 都 不 会 做饭。