Although perhaps more often used in the negative to mean
"never," 从来
(cónglái) can be used with 都 (dōu) to mean "always" or "have always
(done)."
Structure
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.
Subj. + 从来 + 都 + Predicate
Examples
- 我 从来 都 一个人 住，已经 习惯 了。Wǒ
cónglái dōu yīgèrén zhù, yǐjīng xíguàn
le.I have always lived alone; I'm used
to it already.
- 她 从来 都 这么 自私 。Tā cónglái
dōu zhème zìsī.She's always been
this selfish.
- 我们 下棋，他从来 都 是 赢 的。Wǒmen xiàqí, tā
cónglái dōu shì yíng de.He
always wins when we play chess.
- 他 说话 从来 都 很 大声。Tā shuōhuà
cónglái dōu hěn dàshēng.He
always speaks very loudly.
- 她 找 男朋友 从来 都 是 要 长 得 帅 的。Tā zhǎo
nánpéngyou cónglái dōu shì yào zhǎo zhǎng de shuài
de.She always wants those good-looking
guys when she looks for boyfriend.
- 他 工作 从来 都 很 努力。Tā gōngzuò
cónglái dōu hěn nǔlì.He always
works very hard.
- 我 的 学生 从来 都 这么 有自信。Wǒ de xuéshēng
cónglái dōu zhème yǒu zìxìn.My
students are always so confident.
- 他 的 电影 从来 都 是 最 受欢迎 的 。Tā de
diànyǐng cónglái dōu shì zuì shòuhuānyíng
de.His movies are always the most
popular ones.
- 成功 从来 都 要 靠 自己 努力。 Chénggōng
cónglái dōu yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì.Success always depends on one's own efforts.
See Also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Websites
Category:B1 grammar points