不复＋动词
no longer; never again (written)
Structure
（早已／已） 不复 ＋ 动词（存在、返、可见…） · 不复 ＋ 当年／往日（的…）
What it means
Written ‘no longer, never again’ (= 不再), with a sense of loss: something that once existed is gone.
How it is built
(早已/已) + 不复 + verb, mostly in set combinations: 不复存在, 一去不复返, 不复当年/往日（的…）: 汉王朝早已不复存在 (the Han dynasty has long ceased to exist).
When to use it
Literary and written, for a state that has ended. In speech use 不再 or 再也不/没…了.
Watch out
It describes a state that has ended, not a choice about what you will do: ✗我以后不复去那家店了 ✓我以后不再去那家店了.
Examples
汉王朝早已不复存在，这些文物却把那个时代的日常生活保存了下来。
The Han dynasty has long ceased to exist, but these finds have preserved the daily life of its time.
球队连输五场，球迷们早已不复当初的热情。
After five defeats in a row the fans have long lost the enthusiasm they had at first.
青春一去不复返，趁年轻多出去走走吧。
Youth never comes back, so get out and see the world while you are young.
Learn this in Lesson 175 · HSK 7–9: 马王堆 (The tombs of Mawangdui)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →