Keyword
once
- already
- formerly
- the past
- Frequency
- #364
- Strokes
- 12
Readings
céng100%
Mnemonic
A rice cooker on heat 日, building up steam 丷 and letting it off
Stroke order
Composed of
Used in characters
增to increase赠to bestow僧Buddhist priest憎to detest蹭to freeload噌to scold缯silk甑cauldron罾large square net
Used in vocabulary
曾
once; already; ever (in the past); former; previously; (past tense marker used before verb or clause)
曾经
once; already; former; previously; ever; (past tense marker used before verb or clause)
不曾
hasn't yet; hasn't ever
曾
great- (grandfather, grandchild etc)
未曾
hasn't (or haven't); hasn't ever
似曾相识
déjà vu (the experience of seeing exactly the same situation a second time); seemingly familiar; apparently already acquainted
曾荫权
Sir Donald Tsang, aka Tsang Yam-Kuen (1944–), the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong (2005–2012)
曾祖父
father's father's father; paternal great-grandfather
曾国藩
Zeng Guofan (1811-1872), Qing dynasty politician and military man
曾孙
great-grandson
曾几何时
just a while before; not so long ago; everyone can remember when..
曾祖母
father's father's mother; paternal great-grandmother
何曾
did I ever ...? (or "did he ever ...?" etc)
曾庆红
Zeng Qinghong (1939-), vice-president of PRC 2003-2008
曾金燕
Zeng Jinyan (1983-), Chinese blogger and human rights activist, wife of dissident activist Hu Jia 胡佳 (HúJiā)
曾祖
father's father's father; paternal great-grandfather
曾巩
Zeng Gong (1019–1083), Song dynasty writer, one of the eight giants 唐宋八大家 (TángSòngbādàjiā)
曾纪泽
Cang Jize or Tseng Chi-tse (1839-1890), pioneer diplomat of late Qing, serve as imperial commissioner (ambassador) to UK, France and Russia
曾子
Zengzi (505-435 BC), student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大学 (Dàxué)
曾经沧海
lit. having crossed the vast ocean (idiom); fig. widely experienced in the vicissitudes of life
曾朴
Zeng Pu (1872–1935), novelist and publisher
曾孙女
great-granddaughter
曾都区
Zengdu, a district of Suizhou City 随州市 (SuízhōuShì), Hubei
曾外祖父
great-grandfather (mother's grandfather)