Meaning of 曾经
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- once
- already
- former
- previously
- ever
- (past tense marker used before verb or clause)
How to use 曾经
曾经 goes before a verb to say something happened at some point in the past, often with 过 (guo) after the verb. It often suggests the situation is no longer true now. Example: 我曾经在北京住过两年。(Wǒ céngjīng zài Běijīng zhùguo liǎng nián.) I once lived in Beijing for two years.
曾 (céng) means something that once happened, and 经 (jīng) means to pass through, as in 经过 (jīngguò). Together 曾经 is something you once passed through in the past.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 曾经 and 已经 (yǐjīng). 曾经 points to a past experience that is over, while 已经 means something is already done and still relevant now. Also note 曾 is céng here, not zēng as in 曾祖父 (zēngzǔfù).
曾经 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
曾 céng · once · 12 strokes
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经 jīng · classics · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 曾经.
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already |
| 经常 | jīngcháng | frequently; constantly; regularly; often; day-to-day; everyday; daily |
| 经过 | jīngguò | to pass; to go through |
| 经理 | jīnglǐ | manager; director |
| 经历 | jīnglì | to experience; to go through; experience (CL:段[duan4],次[ci4]) |
| 经验 | jīngyàn | experience; to go through; to experience |
| 经济 | jīngjì | economy; economic |
| 经营 | jīngyíng | to engage in (business etc); to run; to operate |
| 经典 | jīngdiǎn | the classics; scriptures |
| 神经 | shénjīng | nerve; mental state |
| 不曾 | bùcéng | hasn't yet; hasn't ever |
| 经费 | jīngfèi | funds; expenditure |
Questions about 曾经
What does 曾经 mean?
曾经 (céngjīng) means "once; already" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 曾经?
曾经 is made of 2 characters: 曾 (12 strokes), 经 (8 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 曾经 an HSK word?
Yes. 曾经 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 曾经 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 曾经 is written 曾經.
How do I make 曾经 negative?
The usual negative is 没有 + verb + 过, or 不曾 in more formal writing. For example, 我没去过日本 (Wǒ méi qùguo Rìběn) means I have never been to Japan. Saying 没曾经 is not natural.
Can 曾经 be used like an adjective meaning former?
Yes, in informal and literary styles you can put it before a noun with 的, as in 曾经的朋友 (céngjīng de péngyou), a former friend. In formal contexts, 以前的 (yǐqián de) or 前 (qián) is also common.