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从未 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
从未cóngwèineverHSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, rank #1391, Hard
cóngwèi(cong2wei4)cong wei T2
  1. 1never
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March 24, 2026

从未(從未)cóngwèi(cong2wei4)

从未 (cóng wèi) means 'never' in Chinese, indicating that something has not happened at any point in time. It is commonly used in both spoken and written language to emphasize the absence of an experience or action.

Strokes9Frequency#1391DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'never' can be used to express strong feelings about experiences that are significant or impactful, such as 'I have never forgotten this moment.' It highlights the importance of experiences in shaping one's identity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person looking back at their life and saying, 'I have never (从未) done this.' The character 从 (cóng) looks like a path leading to 未 (wèi), which symbolizes the unknown or things that have not happened. Together, they create a vivid image of a life with no experiences in a certain area.

Meanings of 从未

cóngwèi(cong2wei4)
1never
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About 从未

从未Simplified
從未Traditional
9Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 从未

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Podcast: 从未

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AI Study Notes for 从未

Quick Contrast

从来没有 (cónglái méiyǒu) — use 从未 for a more formal tone or literary context, while 从来没有 is more conversational.

Usage Notes

This phrase is often used in formal contexts, but can also appear in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to use it with the wrong tense; remember, it strictly refers to the past. For example, saying '我从未去过' means 'I have never been (there).'

HSK Study Tips

从未 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list but is relevant for learners at HSK 4 and above due to its usage in more complex sentences. Students should focus on combining it with verbs to express experiences accurately.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 从未 with other negations like 从来没有. For example, incorrectly saying '我从未去过过' instead of '我从未去过' (I have never been) is a common mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 从未

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Component Characters

从cóngsecond cousin
HSK 24 strokes人
View full entry
未wèinot yet
HSK 65 strokes木
View full entry

How to say never in Chinese

“never” in Chinese is从未cóngwèi

从未 (cóng wèi) means 'never' in Chinese, indicating that something has not happened at any point in time. It is commonly used in both spoken and written language to emphasize the absence of an experience or action.

When to use 从未

This phrase is often used in formal contexts, but can also appear in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to use it with the wrong tense; remember, it strictly refers to the past. For example, saying '我从未去过' means 'I have never been (there).'

从未 or something close to it

从来没有 (cónglái méiyǒu) — use 从未 for a more formal tone or literary context, while 从来没有 is more conversational.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 从未 with other negations like 从来没有. For example, incorrectly saying '我从未去过过' instead of '我从未去过' (I have never been) is a common mistake.

Write 从未

从
未

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Cultural Notes for 从未

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, 'never' can imply a more definitive stance, whereas in Chinese, it may be used to suggest a degree of humility or modesty when discussing experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions about 从未

No, 从未 specifically refers to the past, so it cannot be used to describe current situations.

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