曾经 céngjīng once
once; already; former; previously; ever; past tense marker used before verb or clause
How to remember 曾经: 曾 used to be + 经 go through = once.
Characters
How it is used
- Marks something that once happened in the past but no longer does - 我曾经去过北京 (wǒ céngjīng qùguò Běijīng) I have been to Beijing (before).
- Read céng, not zēng. Pairs with 过 (guò) and implies the situation has ended; distinct from 已经 (yǐjīng, already, up to now). Negated as 不曾/未曾, not 没曾经.
Example sentences
- 我曾经像猪一样吃。 Wǒ céngjīng xiàng zhū yīyàng chī.I used to eat like a pig.
- 您曾经见过考拉吗？ Nín céngjīng jiànguò kǎolā ma?Have you ever seen a koala?
- 你曾经得过重病吗？ Nǐ céngjīng dé guò zhòngbìng ma?Have you ever had any serious illness?