ever; never (in rhetorical questions)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadverb
(used in rhetorical questions) ever; indicating that something has never happened
Used exclusively in rhetorical questions to imply that an action or state has never occurred. Often appears with 过 (guo) to emphasize lack of past experience. The sentence typically ends with a question mark but expects a negative answer.
Zhè这
xiē些
nián年
lái来
，
tā他
hé何
céng曾
wàng忘
jì记
guò过
jiā家
xiāng乡
de的
yī一
cǎo草
yī一
mù木
？
All these years, has he ever forgotten a single blade of grass or tree of his hometown?
Wǒ我
hé何
céng曾
piàn骗
guò过
nǐ你
？
When have I ever lied to you?
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Tā他
hé何
céng曾
chī吃
guò过
zhè这
zhǒng种
kǔ苦
？
When has he ever suffered such hardship?