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
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Category:B1 grammar points