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從來

简从来 · 繁從來

Mandarin · pinyin cóng lái

always
at all times
never (if used in negative sentence)

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Characters in this entry

從: cóng · from, by, since, whence, through
來: lái · come, coming; return, returning
从: cóng · from, by, since, whence, through
来: lái · come, coming; return, returning

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–2 · cong2 lai2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

從來 · find source passages ↗ · 从来 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

cung4 loi4

Cantonese word readings for 從來. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

adv

from the past until the present; all along; ever; never (when used with a negated verb)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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