Kilo Lingo

(cóng lái) - always, ever, from the beginning (used with negatives) in Mandarin

cónglái

Traditional: 從來

Line drawing of 从来
Coloured illustration of 从来
HSK 4
#466 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

always, ever, from the beginning (used with negatives)

Word origin

The word 从来 combines 从 'from, since' with 来 'to come', literally 'from the start coming up to now', used with negatives to mean 'never'. 来 was originally a pictograph of a grain plant later borrowed for 'to come'.

Origin
compound
Root
从 (cóng, from) + 来 (lái, to come)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 从

Stroke order for 来

Examples

I have never been to China.

He never lies.

Is something right just because it has always been this way?

He is never late.

I have never heard this song before.

从来 (cóng lái) - always, ever, from the beginning (used with negatives).

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 10.