曾经 (céngjīng)

曾经 indicates that something happened at some point in the past, with the implication that the situation may have since changed, equivalent to "once," "used to," or "formerly."

Meanings

[adverb] Once; formerly; at some point in the past (an action or state that occurred before, now possibly ended).

Example Sentences

我曾经在北京住过三年。 Wǒ céngjīng zài Běijīng zhù guò sān nián. I once lived in Beijing for three years.

他曾经是一名职业运动员。 Tā céngjīng shì yī míng zhíyè yùndòngyuán. He was once a professional athlete.

她曾经梦想成为一名医生。 Tā céngjīng mèngxiǎng chéngwéi yī míng yīshēng. She once dreamed of becoming a doctor.

这里曾经是一片森林，现在已经变成了城市。 Zhèlǐ céngjīng shì yī piàn sēnlín, xiànzài yǐjīng biànchéng le chéngshì. This place was once a forest; it has now become a city.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
曾经是	was once; used to be
曾经有过	once had; there was once
曾经去过	has been to (at some point)
曾经经历	once experienced

Usage Notes

曾经 is often followed by 过 at the end of the verb phrase to reinforce the completed past experience: 曾经去过 (has been there once). It always refers to the past and cannot be used for present or future contexts.

Memory Hook

曾 relates to "a past era" and 经 means "to pass through/experience"; 曾经 marks an experience that was passed through at some point in history.