Usage note
曾经表示以前某个时间发生过。
céng jīng biǎo shì yǐ qián mǒu gè shí jiān fā shēng guò。
曾经 means once or in the past.
Context note
曾经常用于回忆和比较现在。
céng jīng cháng yòng yú huí yì hé bǐ jiào xiàn zài。
It is often used to recall the past and compare with now.
5 examples
我曾经住在这里。
wǒ céng jīng zhù zài zhè lǐ。
I once lived here.
这条路曾经很安静。
zhè tiáo lù céng jīng hěn ān jìng。
This road used to be very quiet.
他曾经是老师。
tā céng jīng shì lǎo shī。
He used to be a teacher.
我们曾经见过面。
wǒ men céng jīng jiàn guò miàn。
We have met before.
曾经的梦想还在。
céng jīng de mèng xiǎng hái zài。
The dreams from the past are still there.
5 mini stories
这里曾经是一片农田。
zhè lǐ céng jīng shì yí piàn nóng tián。
This place used to be farmland.
她曾经很害怕上台。
tā céng jīng hěn hài pà shàng tái。
She used to be very afraid of going on stage.
这位老人曾经是运动员。
zhè wèi lǎo rén céng jīng shì yùn dòng yuán。
This old person used to be an athlete.
曾经的错误让他学会了认真。
céng jīng de cuò wù ràng tā xué huì le rèn zhēn。
Past mistakes taught him to be serious.
他们曾经一起上学。
tā men céng jīng yì qǐ shàng xué。
They used to go to school together.
Mini dialogue
小时候的回忆
A
你曾经养过小动物吗？
Nǐ céngjīng yǎng guò xiǎo dòngwù ma?
Have you ever kept a small pet?
B
我曾经养过一只小猫。
Wǒ céngjīng yǎng guò yī zhī xiǎo māo.
I once had a kitten.
老地方
A
这里曾经是一家书店。
Zhèlǐ céngjīng shì yī jiā shūdiàn.
This used to be a bookstore.
B
是吗？我完全不知道。
Shì ma? Wǒ wánquán bù zhīdào.
Really? I had no idea.
Related words and contrasts
similar
以前
yǐqián
before; previously
Used for past time, but more general than 曾经.
related
已经
yǐjīng
already
Shows an action is completed, often used with 曾经.
opposite
从未
cóngwèi
never (in the past)
Means something has never happened before.