Meaning
(refers to something that happened previously); already; at some time in the past; before; once; (surname)
Chinese: 曾经；读 zēng 时表示隔两代亲属。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “ceng” becomes a different word in each tone. 曾 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 曾经céng jīngonce; already; former; previously
- 不曾bù cénghasn't yet; hasn't ever
- 似曾相识sì céng xiāng shídéjà vu (the experience of seeing exactly the same situation a second time); seemingly familiar; apparently already acquainted
- 何曾hé céngdid I ever ...? (or "did he ever ...?" etc)
- 未曾wèi cénghasn't (or haven't); hasn't ever
More Words
Example Sentence
我曾经去过那座城市。Wǒ céng jīng qù guò nà zuò chéng shì.I have been to that city before.
我WǒI曾经céng jīngonce去qùto go过guòto cross那nàthat座zuòseat城市chéng shìcity。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of a stacked steamer. Read céng it means ‘once, formerly, ever (in the past)’ (曾经); read zēng it marks a great-grand relation (曾祖, 曾孙).
A way to remember it
céng = once / ever (曾经); zēng = great-grand (曾祖).