Kilo Lingo

(cóng méi) - never (have done) in Mandarin

cóngméi

Traditional: 從沒

Line drawing of 从没
Coloured illustration of 从没
HSK 4
#805 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

never (have done)

Word origin

The word 从没 combines 从 'from, since' with 没 'not, have not', meaning 'never (have done)'. 没 is a phono-semantic compound with the 氵 (water) radical, originally meaning to sink or disappear, later used as a negator of completed action.

Origin
compound
Root
从 (cóng, from) + 没 (méi, have not: 氵 water radical)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 从

Stroke order for 没

Examples

I have never been to Japan.

She has never lost confidence.

She has never been abroad.

I have never been to that restaurant.

I have never seen something like this.

从没 (cóng méi) means never (have done). It is used as an adverb in everyday Mandarin speech.

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This word is part of lesson 17.