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A2 · Grammar reference · ASG8NM5E

Expressing "never" with "conglai"

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.

Structure

Subj. + 从来 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]

Subj. + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过

Keywords
从来 · 从不 · 从没 · 没有 · 不 · Never
Used for
Expressing frequency · Referring to the past · Referring to habitual actions
Classification
Verbs · HSK4

Examples (10)

她从来不喝酒。

我女朋友从不给我打电话。

这个人很奇怪,他从来不笑。

你父母从来不打你吗?

他从不关心别人。

你从来没有想过这个问题吗?

她从来没见过她妈妈。

我从没学过这个词。

你们从来没有听说过这个地方吗?

很多中国人从来没出过国。

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Full explanation at AllSet Learning

Summary, structure, classification, and adapted sentence examples draw from the AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; changes were made. This noncommercial reference is based on an October 2023 snapshot.

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