Difference between revisions of "Expressing "never" with "conglai""
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{{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来 + 不 + V|我 <em>从来 不</em> 吃 猪肉 。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}} | {{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来 + 不 + V|我 <em>从来 不</em> 吃 猪肉 。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}} | ||
{{Rel char|从}} | {{Rel char|从}} | ||
+ | {{Rel char|来}} | ||
{{Rel char|不}} | {{Rel char|不}} | ||
{{Rel char|没}} | {{Rel char|没}} |
Revision as of 09:05, 11 July 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
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). In either of these two usages, 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.
Contents
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."
Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.
Subject + 从来 不 + Verb Phrase
Examples
- 她 对 酒 过敏,所以 从来 不 喝酒。She is allergic to alcohol, she does not drink.
- 我 从来 不 喜欢 一 个 人 在 家。I have never liked being home alone.
- 他 从 不 关心 别人,只 关心 自己。He never cares about others, he only cares about himself
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.
Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.
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。I never thought of doing it this way.
- 我 从来 没有 做 过 中国 菜。I have never made Chinese food.
- 他 酒量 很 好,从 没 喝醉 过 。His capacity for liquor is pretty good, He has never been drunk.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上) (pp.40) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (p. 59) →buy
Websites
- Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 从来