从 (cóng) — (preposition) from (marks a starting point in space, time, or a range); (adverb) never (used before a negative to emphasize that something has never happened)
Definition
As a preposition, 从 marks a starting point in space or time ('from'), more general than 由 (which often marks the agent or decision-maker). As an adverb, 从 + negative means 'never' — similar in meaning to 从未/不曾 but simpler and HSK-2 level.
preposition
from (marks a starting point in space, time, or a range)
adverb
never (used before a negative to emphasize that something has never happened)
Examples
- 。Tā cóng jiā zǒu dào xué xiào.He walks from home to school.
- 。Wǒ cóng jīn tiān kāi shǐ xué zhōng wén.I start learning Chinese from today.
- 。Wǒ cóng bù chí dào.I am never late.
Grammar
Appears in
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