从来不

cónglái

Traditional: 從來不

#1930 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

never (does), has never

Word origin

A set phrase built from 从来 (cóng lái, all along, ever) and the negator 不 (bù, not), meaning to have never done something habitually.

Origin
compound
Root
从来 (cóng lái, all along) + 不 (bù, not)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 从

Stroke order for 来

Stroke order for 不

Examples

yān

He never smokes.

I never tell lies.

She is never late.

They never quarrel.

I never drink coffee.

从来不 (cóng lái bù) means never, used before a verb to deny something as a habit or ongoing fact. For a single completed past action the negator switches to 从来没.

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This word is part of lesson 39.