曾经 · 从来
once did something (in the past) · never, ever
Structure
主语 + 曾经 + 动词 + 过 · 从来 + 不 + 动词 · 从来 + 没 + 动词 + 过
What it means
曾经 says something happened at some time in the past (and usually it is over now). 从来 means “ever” and almost always comes with a negative: “never”.
How it is built
Subject + 曾经 + verb + 过: 我曾经在广东工作过两年 (I once worked in Guangdong for two years). 从来不 + verb, or 从来没 + verb + 过: 我从来没去过他的家乡 (I’ve never been to his hometown).
When to use it
曾经 usually pairs with 过 (h2-7). 从来不 (often 从来都不) is for habits, “never does”: 我父亲从来都不喝酒. 从来没…过 is for experience, “has never done”.
Watch out
从来 needs the negative: ✗ 我从来去过北京。 ✓ 我从来没去过北京。 Use 没…过 for experience, not 不: ✗ 我从来不去过。 ✓ 我从来没去过。
Examples
我曾经在广东工作过两年。
I once worked in Guangdong for two years.
我从来没去过他的家乡。
I’ve never been to his hometown.
我父亲从来都不喝酒。
My father never drinks.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 12: 我的家乡 (Hometown)
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.
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