cang4 ging1曾經曾经

Jyutpingcang4 ging1

Yalechàhng gīng

副詞Very common

Definition

Once; previously; having the experience of doing something in the past.

neutraltime

How it's used

Focuses on a past experience that is no longer true or has been completed. It often implies a sense of nostalgia or a contrast between the past and the present state. While it functions similarly to the English word once, it is more formal than simply using 之前 or 以前.

Examples

ngo5我dei6哋cang4曾ging1經hai2喺go2嗰dou6度zyu6住gwo3過。

We used to live there.

nei5你cang4曾ging1經heoi3去gwo3過le1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳mei6未aa4呀？

Have you ever been to this restaurant before?

Common phrases

cang4曾ging1經jung2擁jau5有

once possessed

cang4曾ging1經cong1滄hoi2海

having seen the world

Common mistake

Learners often overuse it in casual speech where 以前 is more natural. It sounds quite literary or formal in daily conversation, so avoid using it in every sentence about the past.