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从不 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
从不cóngbùneverHSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, rank #3912, Hard
cóngbù(cong2bu4)cong bu T2
  1. 1never
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March 24, 2026

从不(從不)cóngbù(cong2bu4)

从不 (cóng bù) means 'never' in Mandarin. It is used to express that something has not happened at any time in the past and is not expected to happen in the future. Commonly used in both spoken and written contexts, it emphasizes the total absence of an action or event.

Strokes8Frequency#3912DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing that one 'never' does something can reflect personal values or societal norms. For instance, someone might say they 从不 smoke as a reflection of health consciousness, which is increasingly valued in contemporary society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person who has never tried ice cream. They declare, 'I 从不 (cóng bù) eat ice cream!' The character 从 (cóng) means 'from' or 'to follow,' suggesting that they have never followed the path of eating ice cream. The 不 (bù) adds the negation, reinforcing the idea of never.

Meanings of 从不

cóngbù(cong2bu4)
1never
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About 从不

从不Simplified
從不Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

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AI Study Notes for 从不

Quick Contrast

不 (bù, not) — use 从不 to emphasize a total absence of an action over just 不, which negates a specific instance.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 从不 with 不 (bù), which simply means 'no' or 'not.' It's important to use 从不 when you want to emphasize that an action has never occurred. In informal contexts, you might hear it in conversations about habits or preferences.

HSK Study Tips

从不 is a useful phrase for HSK level 3 learners, as it allows them to express negation in a more nuanced way. This word connects well with other adverbs of frequency like 总是 (zǒng shì, 'always') and 有时 (yǒu shí, 'sometimes'). Focus on using it in sentences to describe habits or preferences.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 从不 with a past tense verb incorrectly, like saying '我从不去过那里' (Wǒ cóng bù qù guò nàlǐ), which mixes tenses. The correct form is '我从不去那里' (Wǒ cóng bù qù nàlǐ), meaning 'I never go there.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 从不

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Component Characters

从cóngsecond cousin
HSK 24 strokes人
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry

How to say never in Chinese

“never” in Chinese is从不cóngbù

从不 (cóng bù) means 'never' in Mandarin. It is used to express that something has not happened at any time in the past and is not expected to happen in the future. Commonly used in both spoken and written contexts, it emphasizes the total absence of an action or event.

When to use 从不

Learners often confuse 从不 with 不 (bù), which simply means 'no' or 'not.' It's important to use 从不 when you want to emphasize that an action has never occurred. In informal contexts, you might hear it in conversations about habits or preferences.

从不 or something close to it

不 (bù, not) — use 从不 to emphasize a total absence of an action over just 不, which negates a specific instance.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 从不 with a past tense verb incorrectly, like saying '我从不去过那里' (Wǒ cóng bù qù guò nàlǐ), which mixes tenses. The correct form is '我从不去那里' (Wǒ cóng bù qù nàlǐ), meaning 'I never go there.'

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从
不

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Frequently Asked Questions about 从不

Yes, 从不 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though you might find it more in casual conversations.

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