Dictionary › 曾经

曾经

céng jīng

Old HSK 5 HSK 3.0 level 5 2-character word Traditional 曾經

曾经 (céng jīng) means "once, formerly (+ past experience)". It is an HSK 3.0 level 5 word, and was HSK 5 in the old six-level list.

What 曾经 means

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

How 曾经 is used in grammar

曾经 is a grammar word. Each link goes to its own section: what it does in that pattern, the structure, three example sentences with pinyin, and the mistake to avoid.

• Time Adverbs: 本来, 才, 曾经, 从来, 立刻 (HSK 3)

The official HSK 3.0 grammar outline lists it at level 5, adverbs (时间副词).

The characters in 曾经

• 曾céngonce; already; ever (in the past)
• 经jīngclassics; sacred book; scripture

Example sentences

• 他曾经是市长。
  Tā céngjīng shì shìzhǎng.
  He used to be the mayor.
• 她曾经爱过他。
  She used to love him.
• 我曾经见过他。
  I've seen him before.
• 他曾经反对垄断。
  He was opposed to monopolies.
• 曾经有一个意外。
  There's been an accident.
• 你曾经结过婚吗？
  Did you ever get married?

Words starting with 曾经

• 曾经沧海céng jīng cāng hǎilit. having crossed the vast ocean (idiom); fig. widely experienced in the vicissitudes…
• 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 yúnthere are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed…

Where 曾经 is taught

In the GraphChinese course it is part of Time & Temporal Expressions (HSK 5), each one a topic in the dependency graph of HSK 1–6 that opens only once its prerequisites are solid.

Go deeper

• Every HSK 5 word, with the rest of its level.
• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read céng jīng correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.