Difference between revisions of "Expressing "never" with "conglai""

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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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
 
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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
  
== "To never do" with 从来不 (cónglái bù)==
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== "To Never Do" with 从来 (cónglái) + 不 (bù) ==
  
 
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."
 
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."
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</div>
 
</div>
  
Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in a casual setting.
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Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝 酒。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cónglái bù</em> hē jiǔ. </span> <span class="trans">She never drinks. </span>
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* 她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝酒。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cónglái bù</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">She never drinks.</span>
*我 女朋友 <em>从 不</em> 给 我 打 电话。<span class="expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>cóng bù</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">My girlfriend never gives me a call. </span>
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*我 女朋友 <em>从 不</em> 给 我 打 电话。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>cóng bù</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend never calls me.</span>
*这 个 人 很 奇怪,他 <em>从来 不</em> 笑。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge rén hěn qíguài, tā <em>cónglái bù</em> xiào. </span> <span class="trans">This person is very strange. He never laughs. </span>
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*这 个 人 很 奇怪,他 <em>从来 不</em> 笑。<span class="pinyin">Zhège rén hěn qíguài, tā <em>cónglái bù</em> xiào.</span><span class="trans">This person is very strange. He never laughs.</span>
*你 父母 <em>从来 不</em> 打 你 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ fùmǔ <em>cónglái bù</em> dǎ nǐ ma?</span> <span class="trans">Your parents never hit you? </span>
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*你 父母 <em>从来 不</em> 打 你 吗?<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">"hit" can mean "spank"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ fùmǔ <em>cónglái bù</em> dǎ nǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Your parents never hit you?</span>
*他 <em>从 不</em> 关心 别人。<span class="expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng bù</em> guānxīn biérén. </span> <span class="trans">He never cares about other people. </span>
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*他 <em>从 不</em> 关心 别人。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng bù</em> guānxīn biérén.</span><span class="trans">He never cares about other people.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== "To have never done" with 从来没有 (cónglái méiyǒu) ==
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== "To Have Never Done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu) ==
  
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.
+
Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) (and 过 (guo) 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 (guo) also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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.
+
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 (guo) needs to come immediately after the verb.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>从来 </em> <em>过</em> 她 妈妈。<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méi</em> jiàn <em>guo</em> tā māma. </span> <span class="trans">She has never met her mother. </span>
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* <em>从来 没有</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 问题 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> xiǎng <em>guo</em> zhège wèntí ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you never thought about this question? </span>
* <em>从来 没有</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 问题 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> xiǎng <em>guo</em> zhè ge wènti ma? </span> <span class="trans">Have you never thought about this question? </span>
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* <em>从来 </em> <em>过</em> 她 妈妈。<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méi</em> jiàn <em>guo</em> tā māma.</span><span class="trans">She has never met her mother.</span>
* 我 <em>从没</em> 学 <em>过</em> 这 个 词。<span class="expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cóngméi</em> xué <em>guo</em> zhè ge cí.</span> <span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span>
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* 我 <em>从没</em> 学 <em>过</em> 这 个 词。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cóngméi</em> xué <em>guo</em> zhège cí.</span><span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span>
* 你们 <em>从来 没有</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> tīngshuō <em>guo</em> zhè ge dìfang ma? </span> <span class="trans">Have you never heard about this place before? </span>
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* 你们 <em>从来 没有</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> tīngshuō <em>guo</em> zhège dìfang ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you never heard about this place before? </span>
* 很 多 中国人 <em>从来 没</em> 出 <em> 过</em> 国。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén <em>cónglái méi</em> chū <em> guo</em> guó. </span> <span class="trans">A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.</span>
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* 很 多 中国人 <em>从来 没</em> 出 <em> 过</em> 国。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén <em>cónglái méi</em> chū <em> guo</em> guó.</span><span class="trans">A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== See also ==
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== See Also ==
  
 
*[[Expressing experiences with "guo" ]]
 
*[[Expressing experiences with "guo" ]]
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===Books===
 
===Books===
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|5}}
 
*[[BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上)]] (p.40)  [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B003AKZFFC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B003AKZFFC&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-23 →buy]
 
*[[BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上)]] (p.40)  [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B003AKZFFC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B003AKZFFC&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-23 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (p. 59) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (p. 59) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来 + 不 / 没(有) + Verb|她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝 酒。我 <em>从来 没有</em> 去<em> 过</em> 美国。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来 + 不 / 没(有) + Verb|她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝酒。我 <em>从来 没有</em> 去<em> 过</em> 美国。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}}
 
{{Rel char|从不}}
 
{{Rel char|从不}}
 
{{Rel char|从没}}
 
{{Rel char|从没}}

Latest revision as of 04:52, 9 March 2019

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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.

"To Never Do" with 从来 (cónglái) + 不 (bù)

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."

Structure

The structure is:

Subj. + 从来 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]

Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.

Examples

  • 从来 不 喝酒。 cónglái bù hējiǔ.She never drinks.
  • 我 女朋友 从 不 给 我 打 电话。来 has been omitted here.Wǒ nǚpéngyou cóng bù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.My girlfriend never calls me.
  • 这 个 人 很 奇怪,他 从来 不 笑。Zhège rén hěn qíguài, tā cónglái bù xiào.This person is very strange. He never laughs.
  • 你 父母 从来 不 打 你 吗?"hit" can mean "spank"Nǐ fùmǔ cónglái bù dǎ nǐ ma?Your parents never hit you?
  • 从 不 关心 别人。来 has been omitted here.cóng bù guānxīn biérén.He never cares about other people.

"To Have Never Done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu)

Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) (and 过 (guo) 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 (guo) also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.

Structure

The structure is:

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 (guo) needs to come immediately after the verb.

Examples

  • 从来 没有 这 个 问题 吗?cónglái méiyǒu xiǎng guo zhège wèntí ma? Have you never thought about this question?
  • 从来 没 她 妈妈。cónglái méi jiàn guo tā māma.She has never met her mother.
  • 从没 这 个 词。来 has been omitted here.cóngméi xué guo zhège cí.I have never before studied this word.
  • 你们 从来 没有 听说 这 个 地方 吗?Nǐmen cónglái méiyǒu tīngshuō guo zhège dìfang ma? Have you never heard about this place before?
  • 很 多 中国人 从来 没 国。Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén cónglái méi chū guo guó.A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites