Expressing "always" with "conglai"

Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with (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 。cónglái dōu shì zhèyàng, zìsī dé hěn.She's always been like that, very selfish.
  • 从来 都 是 一 个 人,已经 习惯 了。cónglái dōu shì yīgè rén, yǐjīng xíguànle.I have always been alone; I'm used to it already.
  • 他 的 电影 从来 都 是 最 受欢迎 的 。Tā de diànyǐng shì cónglái dōu zuì shòuhuānyíng de.His movies are always the most popular ones.
  • 成功 从来 都 是 要 靠 自己 努力 的。 Chénggōng cónglái dōu shì yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì de.Success always depends on one's own efforts.
  • 生活 从来 都 是 公平 的,你 不 可能 什么 都 比 别人 好。 Shēnghuó cónglái dōu shì gōngpíng de,nǐ bù kěnéng shénme dōu bǐ biérén hǎo .Life's always been fair and there's no way for you to be better than other people in every way.

See also

Sources and further reading

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