Expressing "never" with "conglai"

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.

"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。 Tā cónglái bù hē jiǔ. She never drinks.
• 我 女朋友 从 不 给 我 打 电话。来 has been omitted here.Wǒ de nǚpéngyou cóng bù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà. My girlfriend never gives me a call.
• 这 个 人 很 奇怪，他 从来 不 笑。Zhè ge rén hěn qíguài, tā cóngbù xiào. This person is very strange.He never laughs.
• 你 父母 从来 不 打 你 吗 ？ Nǐ fùmǔ cónglái bù dǎ nǐ ma? Do your parents never hit you?
• 他 从 不 关心 别人。 来 has been omitted here.Tā cóng bù guānxīn biérén. 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 从来 没(有) 去 过 美国 。 Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu qù guò Měiguó. I have never gone to the USA.
• 我 从来 没(有) 想 过 这 个 问题 。 Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu xiǎng guò zhè ge wèntí. I have never thought about this problem.
• 我 从来 没(有) 做 过 中国 菜 。 Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu zuò guò Zhōngguó cài. I have never made Chinese food.
• 他 从来 没(有) 喝 过 可乐 。 Tā cónglái méiyǒu hē guò kělè. He has never been drunk cola.
• 我 从来 没(有) 吃 过 臭 豆腐 。 Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu chī guò chòu dòufu. I have never eaten stinky tofu.
• 她 从来 没(有) 哭 过 。 Tā cónglái méiyǒu kū guò. She has never cried.
• 我 从来 没(有) 听说 过 这 个 地方 。 Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu tīngshuō guò zhè ge dìfang. I have never before heard about this place.
• 有的 孩子 从来 没(有) 用 过 电脑 。 Yǒude háizi cónglái méiyǒu yòng guò diànnǎo. Some kids have never used a computer.
• 分手 以后 ， 我 从没 见 过 他 。 来 has been omitted here.Fēnshǒu yǐhòu, wǒ cóngméi jiàn guò tā. After breaking up, I never saw him again.
• 我 从没 学 过 这 个 词 。 来 has been omitted here.Wǒ cóngméi xué guò zhè ge cí. I have never before studied this word.

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