向来
Traditional: 向來
xiàng lái HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他向来很守时。
Tā xiànglái hěn shǒushí.
He has always been punctual.
她向来不喜欢吃辣的食物。
Tā xiànglái bù xǐhuān chī là de shíwù.
She has never liked spicy food all along.
这家公司向来重视员工培训。
Zhè jiā gōngsī xiànglái zhòngshì yuángōng péixùn.
This company has always valued employee training.
他向来诚实。
Tā xiànglái chéngshí.
He is always honest.
她向来早起。
Tā xiànglái zǎo qǐ.
She always gets up early.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 向 (xiàng) as 'toward' and 来 (lái) as 'come'—together, they suggest something that 'has come toward' the present consistently, like a habit that always arrives on time.

📝 Usage Notes

It is used in both formal and informal contexts, common in both written and spoken Chinese. It often appears in statements describing personal habits, traits, or longstanding situations, and is typically placed before the verb or adjective it modifies.

📖 Grammar Points

向来 + Verb/Adjective (e.g., 向来努力). It is often used in the structure 'Subject + 向来 + Predicate' to state a fact. It can be combined with 都 for emphasis, as in '向来都...'.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, using 向来 can imply reliability or predictability, which are valued traits in personal and professional contexts. It subtly reinforces the idea of enduring qualities.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 一直 (yīzhí, 'always' in a continuous sense) and 从来 (cónglái, 'always' with a negative or 'ever' in questions), but 向来 focuses more on a consistent trait or habit over a long period, often in neutral or positive statements.

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