HSK 7
历来
lì lái
历来 (All along, throughout history)
Explanation
历来 (lìlái) is a time adverb (a word that modifies verbs or adjectives), meaning "from the past up to now, always so throughout time." It emphasizes a condition, attitude, or pattern that has persisted from the past to the present without ever changing.
Subject (the person or thing performing, at the head of the sentence) + 历来 (lìlái) + verb/adjective (e.g. 历来重视 = has always attached importance to).
Use for statements that are general, traditional, historical, or long-standing habits; it carries a formal tone and is often found in formal/written usage. Close in meaning to 向来 (xiànglái) and 从来 (cónglái).
历来 emphasizes both the depth of time and objectivity, and is usually used in affirmative sentences; whereas 从来 (cónglái) is often used in negative sentences (从来不 = never). 历来 is more formal than 向来.
Placing 历来 after the verb (wrong: 重视历来 → correct: 历来重视); using 历来 for a momentary, newly occurring matter (wrong, because 历来 requires something long-lasting and continuous).
Examples
Teacher Wang has always, from the very beginning, attached importance to cultivating students' hands-on ability.
Popular songs have always been an indispensable part of social culture.
Practice
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Learn “历来” effectively
The grammar point “历来” (历来 (All along, throughout history)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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