Express “never” and “always” with Chinese word “从来”

Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually used when you want to express that you never do something, or that you have never done something. In either usages, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.

虽然"从来 (cónglái)"也可以用于否定句，不过一般它都用于表达"你没做某事"或者"你没做过某事"的意思。无论哪一种用法，在平常对话交流的时候，"从来"可能会简短成"从"。

"To never do" with 从来不

When you follow 从来 (cónglái) with 不 (bù), you are expressing that you never do something.

当"从来"和"不"连用，你可以表达"你没做某事"。

Subject + 从来 + 不 + Verb Phrase

主语+从来+不+动词短语

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

要记住，"从来"在平常对话里可能会简短成只说"从"。

Examples

例子

她 从来 不 喝 酒 。Tā cónglái bù hē jiǔ.

She never drinks.

我 从来 不 一 个 人 在 家 。Wǒ cónglái bù yī gè rén zài jiā.

I have never been home alone.

我 从来 不 吃 鱼 。Wǒ cónglái bù chī yú.

I never eat fish.

我 从来 不 说 英文 。Wǒ cónglái bù shuō Yīngwén.

I never speak English.

我 爸爸 从来 不 生气 。Wǒ bàba cónglái bù shēngqì.

My dad never gets angry.

她 很 奇怪 ， 她 从不 笑 。 Tā hěn qíguài, tā cóngbù xiào.

She is very strange, she never laughs.

这 个 地方 从不 下雪 。 Zhè gè dìfang cóngbù xiàxuě.

It never snows at this place.

"To have never done" with 从来没

Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) to indicate that you have never done something. 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.

"从来"和"没"或者"没有"连用，可以表达"你没做过某事"的意思。这种情况你是在讲过去的事情，因为你说的是过去没有做过某事，所以用上"没有"很恰当。"过"这个字也有指示意义，因为你讲的是关于你的生活经历。

Subject + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过

主语+从来+没（有）+动词+过

Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 (guò) needs to come immediately after the verb.

注意你可以在动词之后加上宾语或者其他信息，但是"过"需要紧跟在动词之后。

Examples

例子

我 从来 没(有) 去 过 美国 。Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu qù guò Měiguó.

I have never gone to the USA.

我 从来 没(有) 做 过 中国 菜 。Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu zuò guò Zhōngguó cài.

I have never made Chinese food.

他 从来 没(有) 喝 过 可乐 。Tā cónglái méiyǒu hē guò kělè.

He has never been drunk cola.

她 从来 没(有) 哭 过 。Tā cónglái méiyǒu kū guò.

She has never cried.

我 从来 没(有) 听说 过 这 个 地方 。Wǒ cónglái méiyǒu tīngshuō guò zhè gè dìfang.

I have never before heard about this place.

我 从没 学 过 这 个 词 。Wǒ cóngméi xué guò zhè gè cí.

I have never before studied this word.

Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "never," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always".

虽然大部分情况下是用"从来"在否定句里表达"never"，但它也可以和"都"搭配以表达"总是"的意思。

Without the negative adverbs 不 and 没, 从来 takes on the meaning of "always". When used in the positive, though, it is customary to put the adverb 都 after the 从来.

无需否定词"不"和"没"，"从来"这个词可以直接表示"总是"。而当用于肯定句的时候，通常会加上副词"都"于"从来"之后。

Subject + 从来 + 都 + Verb Phrase

主语+从来+都+动词短语

Examples

例子

她 从来 都 是 这样，自私 得 很 。Tā cónglái dōu shì zhèyàng, zìsī dé hěn.

She's always been like that, very selfish.

他 从来 都 不 会 做饭 。Tā cónglái dōu bù huì zuò fàn.

He has never been able to cook.