<p>Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean "<a href="never" class="uri" title="wikilink">never</a>," 从来 (cónglái) can be used with <a href="都" class="uri" title="wikilink">都</a> (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always (done)."</p> <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <p>Without the negative adverbs 不 and 没, 从来 takes on the meaning of "always." (Literally, 从来 means something like "from the beginning," although no one is really thinking that phrase when they use it.) When used in the positive, though, it is customary to put the adverb 都 after 从来.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 从来 + 都 + Predicate</p> </div> <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>我 <em>从来 都</em> 一个人 住，已经 习惯 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cónglái dōu</em> yīgèrén zhù, yǐjīng xíguàn le.</span><span class="trans">I have always lived alone; I'm used to it already.</span></li> <li>她 <em>从来 都</em> 这么 自私 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cónglái dōu</em> zhème zìsī.</span><span class="trans">She's always been this selfish.</span></li> <li>我们 下棋，他<em>从来 都</em> 是 赢 的。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xiàqí, tā <em>cónglái dōu</em> shì yíng de.</span><span class="trans">He always wins when we play chess.</span></li> <li>他 说话 <em>从来 都</em> 很 大声。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuōhuà <em>cónglái dōu</em> hěn dàshēng.</span><span class="trans">He always speaks very loudly.</span></li> <li>她 找 男朋友 <em>从来 都</em> 是 要 长 得 帅 的。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǎo nánpéngyou <em>cónglái dōu</em> shì yào zhǎo zhǎng de shuài de.</span><span class="trans">She always wants those good-looking guys when she looks for boyfriend.</span></li> <li>他 工作 <em>从来 都</em> 很 努力。<span class="pinyin">Tā gōngzuò <em>cónglái dōu</em> hěn nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">He always works very hard.</span></li> <li>我 的 学生 <em>从来 都</em> 这么 有自信。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>cónglái dōu</em> zhème yǒu zìxìn.</span><span class="trans">My students are always so confident.</span></li> <li>他 的 电影 <em>从来 都</em> 是 最 受欢迎 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de diànyǐng <em>cónglái dōu</em> shì zuì shòuhuānyíng de.</span><span class="trans">His movies are always the most popular ones.</span></li> <li>成功 <em>从来 都</em> 要 靠 自己 努力。<span class="pinyin"> Chénggōng <em>cónglái dōu</em> yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">Success always depends on one's own efforts.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2> <ul> <li><a href=""Never"_with_"conglai"" title="wikilink">"Never" with "conglai"</a></li> <li><a href=""Always"_as_a_complaint_with_"laoshi"" title="wikilink">"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"</a></li> <li><a href=""Always"_with_"zongshi"" title="wikilink">"Always" with "zongshi"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="现代汉语八百词" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语八百词</a>(p.132) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001198GSW&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001198GSW">→buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (p. 59) <a href="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</a></li> <li><a href="New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(新实用汉语课本4)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)</a> (p. 121) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192">→buy</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3> <ul> <li>Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: <a href="http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0119.html">Usage of 从来</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a href="Category:B1_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category:B1 grammar points</a></p>