Expressing "always" with "conglai"

Revision as of 05:09, 26 November 2013 by Parry (talk | contribs) (Text replace - "{{Grammar Box}} " to "{{Grammar Box}} ")

Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always (done)."

Structure with 都

Without the negative adverbs 不 and 没, 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

  • 从来 都 是 这样,自私 得 很 。He's always been like that, very selfish.
  • 从来 都 是 一 个 人,已经 习惯 了.I have always been single, I'm used to it already.
  • 从来 都 不 会 做饭 。I've never been able to cook (rice)

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites