“Once” in Chinese 1 – céngjīng

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 曾經曾经 céngjīng means “once” or “ever” and is used to describe something that happened or a condition that existed in the past. It conveys the idea of a past experience or a previous state.

Structure

S + céngjīng + 是 or 在 or 有

他tā曾經céngjīng是shì一位yíwèi有名yǒumíng的de醫生yīshēng他tā曾经céngjīng是shì一位yíwèi有名yǒumíng的de医生yīshēng
He was once a famous doctor.

這裡zhèlǐ曾經céngjīng是shì醫院yīyuàn， 所以suǒyǐ大家dàjiā都dōu不bú願意yuànyì住zhù在zài這zhè大樓dàlóu这里zhèlǐ曾经céngjīng是shì医院yīyuàn， 所以suǒyǐ大家dàjiā都dōu不bú愿意yuànyì住zhù在zài这zhè大楼dàlóu
This place used to be a hospital, so no one wants to live in this building.

我wǒ曾經céngjīng有yǒu一個yíge孩子háizi我wǒ曾经céngjīng有yǒu一个yíge孩子háizi
I once had a child.

老師lǎoshī曾經céngjīng在zài加拿大jiānádà教書jiàoshū， 所以suǒyǐ他tā英文yīngwén不錯búcuò老师lǎoshī曾经céngjīng在zài加拿大jiānádà教书jiàoshū， 所以suǒyǐ他tā英文yīngwén不错búcuò
The teacher used to teach in Canada, so his English is good.

我wǒ曾經céngjīng有yǒu一份yífèn很好hěnhǎo的de工作gōngzuò我wǒ曾经céngjīng有yǒu一份yífèn很好hěnhǎo的de工作gōngzuò
I once had a very good job.

S + céngjīng + V + (guò)

It often pairs with 過过 guò to indicate that something has been experienced or happened at least once in the past.

曾經céngjīng我wǒ很hěn害怕hàipà黑hēi， 但是dànshì現在xiànzài我wǒ克服kèfú了le曾经céngjīng我wǒ很hěn害怕hàipà黑hēi， 但是dànshì现在xiànzài我wǒ克服kèfú了le
I used to be very afraid of the dark, but now I have overcome it.

你nǐ曾經céngjīng去qù過guò四川sìchuān嗎ma？ 你nǐ曾经céngjīng去qù过guò四川sìchuān吗ma？
Have you ever been to Sichuan?

我wǒ曾經céngjīng住zhù過guò那裡nàlǐ一段yíduàn時間shíjiān我wǒ曾经céngjīng住zhù过guò那里nàlǐ一段yíduàn时间shíjiān
I used to live there for a while.

李lǐ老師lǎoshī曾經céngjīng出chū過guò書shū李lǐ老师lǎoshī曾经céngjīng出chū过guò书shū
Teacher Li has published a book before.

弟弟dìdi曾經céngjīng被bèi帶dài到dào廟miào裡lǐ收驚shōujīng弟弟dìdi曾经céngjīng被bèi带dài到dào庙miào里lǐ收惊shōuliáng
My younger brother was once taken to the temple to receive blessings.

FYI
收驚惊 shōujīng in Taiwan originates from Taoist rituals. In Taoist belief, humans have what’s called “三魂七魄 sānhún qīpò (three souls and seven spirits.)” The soul deals with ethical and moral aspects, while the spirits govern desires. Each soul can oversee two spirits, and as long as the three souls and seven spirits are intact in a person, they remain in good health. If, however, one soul is frightened away for some reason, causing the spirits to leave, it can lead to illness, fever, or unusual behavior. And in recent times, some individuals have come to regard 收驚惊 shōujīng as a part of psychological therapy and have categorized it within the realm of traditional healing practices.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I used to think that princes and princesses would live happily ever after.

我wǒ曾經céngjīng以為yǐwéi王子wángzǐ跟gēn公主gōngzhǔ會huì永遠yǒngyuǎn幸福xìngfú地de生活shēnghuó下去xiàqù我wǒ曾经céngjīng以为yǐwéi王子wángzǐ跟gēn公主gōngzhǔ会huì永远yǒngyuǎn幸福xìngfú地de生活shēnghuó下去xiàqù

✔️ He used to have great dreams, but now he has given up.

他tā曾經céngjīng有yǒu很hěn偉大wěidà的de夢想mèngxiǎng， 但是dànshì現在xiànzài放棄fàngqì了le他tā曾经céngjīng有yǒu很hěn伟大wěidà的de夢想mèngxiǎng， 但是dànshì现在xiànzài放弃fàngqì了le

✔️ Did you ever love me?

你nǐ曾經céngjīng愛ài過guò我wǒ嗎ma？ 你nǐ曾经céngjīng爱ài过guò我wǒ吗ma？

• Once 2 一旦 yídàn (HSK 5)