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  3. Expressing "once" with 曾经 ("céng2jing1")

Expressing "once" with 曾经 ("céng2jing1")

曾经 céngjīng

Adverb
HSK 4

Structure

Subj. + 曾经 + Verb + 过 (+ Obj.) 曾经 + 是 / 在 / 有 ⋯⋯ 不曾 / 未曾 + Verb + 过 + Obj.

Translations

  • once

Definition

表示过去发生过的事情或状态，强调过去的经历。

Once; in the past. Indicates an action or state that occurred in the past, often with an implication of change from that state.

Usage

通常放在动词前，表示过去有过某种经历或状态。

Typically placed before a verb to indicate a past experience or state.

Examples

  • 1 我曾经去过北京。 (I have been to Beijing once.)
  • 2 她曾经是一位老师。 (She was once a teacher.)
  • 3 我们曾经是好朋友。 (We were once good friends.)
  • 4 他曾经学过钢琴。 (He once studied piano.)
  • 5 这个城市曾经很繁华。 (This city was once very prosperous.)

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