Definitions
(adverb)
once; already; ever; previously
(prefix)
great- (in family relations)
Etymology
Pictograph of a cooking pot. Based on the original meaning "cauldron; cooking pot", now written as 甑. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "曾" originally represented a layered steaming vessel, imparting an early sense of stratification or repetition that correlated with its initial meanings of "layer" or "once" in a temporal context. In its current form, the character is structurally composed of the elements "八" placed above "曰" and "田", a configuration that aligns with modern analytical conventions rather than directly illustrating its pictographic origins. Over centuries, the semantic focus shifted from a concrete noun to primarily an adverbial function denoting past occurrence, as seen in compounds like "曾经", while its role as a surname persisted, a transition facilitated by phonetic borrowing for grammatical uses.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他曾是我的朋友。
我曾经住在上海。
她曾说过那句话。
我们曾一起去旅行。
他曾经是一位著名的医生。
尽管他曾犯过错误，但大家依然原谅了他。
这座城市曾经历过多次战争，如今却繁荣昌盛。
倘若你曾细心观察，便会发现自然界中蕴藏着无数奥秘。