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曾经

céng jīng
HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Adverb Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. once
  2. 2. already
  3. 3. former
  4. 4. previously
  5. 5. ever
  6. 6. (past tense marker used before verb or clause)

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item
不曾
bù céng

hasn't yet

不曾 is the negative form, meaning 'never' (in the past), opposite of 曾经's 'once'.

Related words

1 item
从前
cóng qián

previously

从前 means 'in the past' and is often used narratively, related to 曾经's past tense marking.

Synonyms

1 item
已经
yǐ jīng

already

Both can indicate an action has happened, but 曾经 is used for past experiences, while 已经 emphasizes completion or 'already'.

Usage notes

Collocations

曾经 is often paired with 过 (e.g., 曾经去过) to emphasize past experience, not with 了 which marks completion.

Common mistakes

曾经 is not used for specific time references like 'yesterday' or 'last year'; it indicates an indefinite past experience.

Grammar

Guides that feature 曾经

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

2 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 7 min
Time Adverbs 曾经, 早已, 时刻, 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙

Talk about what you once did with 曾经, what happened long ago with 早已, what you always keep in mind with 时刻, and how fast someone acts with 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙.

Reading: céng jīng Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min
了 vs 过

Contrast two aspect markers that both look backward but mean different things.

Reading: céng jīng Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
我 曾经 去过北京。
I have been to Beijing before.
这里 曾经 很繁华，现在却是一片荒凉。
It used to be bustling here, but now it's completely desolate.
这个地区 曾经 是一个殖民地。
This area used to be a colony.
这个国家 曾经 经历过独裁统治。
This country once experienced a dictatorship.
罗马帝国 曾经 统治过许多土地。
The Roman Empire once ruled over many lands.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 曾经

曾经沧海
céng jīng cāng hǎi

lit. having crossed the vast ocean (idiom)

曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云
céng jīng cāng hǎi nán wéi shuǐ , chú què wū shān bù shì yún

there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom)

Child Words of 曾经

曾
céng

once

曾
zēng

great- (grandfather, grandchild etc)

经
jīng

classics