Difference between revisions of "Expressing "always" with "conglai""

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{{Rel char|来}}
 
{{Rel char|来}}
 
{{Similar|"Never" with "conglai"}}
 
{{Similar|"Never" with "conglai"}}
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{{Similar|"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing frequency}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing frequency}}

Revision as of 09:44, 10 October 2012

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 。
  • 从来 都 是 一 个 人,已经 习惯 了。
  • 从来 都 不 会 做饭 。

See also

Sources and further reading