cung4 loi4從來从来
Jyutpingcung4 loi4
Yalechùhng lòih
Definition
Always; from the past until now, usually followed by a negative to mean never.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Emphasize the consistency of a state or action across time by adding the particle 都 immediately after this word. It is almost exclusively used in negative sentences to express that something has not happened at any point in the past. While it can appear in positive contexts in formal written Chinese, doing so in spoken Cantonese sounds unnatural or overly dramatic.
Examples
I have never been to that restaurant.
Do you never listen to what people say?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often forget to include the negative marker 唔 or 冇 after this word, which is essential to convey the meaning of never in a natural way.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
