HSK 7
向来
xiàng lái
The word 向来 (xiànglái) – Always, all along
Explanation
向来 (xiànglái) is a time adverb meaning 'always', 'has always been this way from the past until now', used to emphasize a habit, character trait, or stable state that has persisted over a long time. It carries a more formal tone than 一直 (yìzhí – always, all along).
subject (the person/thing performing, at the head of the sentence) + 向来 (xiànglái) + verb/adjective; often paired with the negatives 未 (wèi – never) / 不 (bù – not) to emphasize invariability.
when generalizing an inherent characteristic that has existed for a long time and still continues (character, style). Somewhat leaning toward formal/written usage.
向来 (xiànglái) and 从来 (cónglái) both mean 'always/all along', but 从来 is almost exclusively used with negatives (从来不/没), whereas 向来 can be used in both affirmative and negative sentences.
do not use 向来 for a momentary or future event; it only describes a long-standing habit/state, so you cannot say '明天我向来去' (wrong).
Examples
This person has always responded to gentleness rather than force (yields to soft persuasion but resists hard pressure); you can't take a hard line with him.
He has always been the first to arrive at school and has never once been late.
Practice
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Learn “向来” effectively
The grammar point “向来” (The word 向来 (xiànglái) – Always, all along) 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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