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Expressing duration of inaction

没 méi

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

Subj. + (已经 +) Duration + 没 + Verb + 了

Definition

表示某个动作或状态从过去某个时间点开始到现在一直没有发生或持续的时间长度。

Indicates the duration of time since an action or state last occurred or has been absent.

Usage

主语 + 时间段 + 没 + 动词 + 了。也可以使用'有'字句：主语 + 有 + 时间段 + 没 + 动词 + 了。常用于强调某个动作很久没有做了。

Subject + time duration + 没 + verb + 了. Also can use 有: Subject + 有 + time duration + 没 + verb + 了. Used to emphasize that an action has not been done for a long time.

Examples

  • 1 我三年没回家了。(I haven't been home for three years.)
  • 2 他两天没吃饭了。(He hasn't eaten for two days.)
  • 3 我们好久没见面了。(We haven't seen each other for a long time.)
  • 4 她有半年没去健身房了。(She hasn't gone to the gym for half a year.)
  • 5 这个城市十年没下雪了。(This city hasn't had snow for ten years.)

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