What does 曾 mean in Chinese?

曾 (céng) means "once; already; ever (in the past); former; previously; (past tense marker used before verb or clause)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 曾?

曾 is pronounced "céng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 曾?

曾 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 曾?

Common words with 曾 include 不曾 (hasn't yet), 曾经 (once), 何曾 (did I ever ...? (or "did he ever ...?" etc)), 曾参 (Zeng Shen (505-435 BC), a.k.a. 曾子[Zeng1 zi3], student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大學|大学[Da4 xue2]), 曾子 (Zengzi (505-435 BC), student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大學|大学[Da4 xue2]).

How do you write 曾?

You can practice writing 曾 using our stroke order tool.

曾 (céng), once

曾

céng

once; already; ever (in the past); former

HSK 5 New to HSK

Character Breakdown

Radical: 曰 (no. 73)

View stroke order →

Definitions

once
already
ever (in the past)
former
previously
(past tense marker used before verb or clause)

Example Sentences

我曾去过北京。

Wǒ céng qù guo Běijīng

I once went to Beijing

Words Containing 曾

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
不曾	bù céng	hasn't yet	HSK 6
曾经	céng jīng	once	HSK 5
何曾	hé céng	did I ever ...? (or "did he ever ...?" etc)
曾参	Zēng Shēn	Zeng Shen (505-435 BC), a.k.a. 曾子[Zeng1 zi3], student of Confucius, presumed editor or author of Confucian classic the Great Learning 大學\|大学[Da4 xue2]

Related Words

从先(cóng xiān)· (dialect) before

→

前车之覆，后车之鉴(qián chē zhī fù , hòu chē zhī jiàn)· lit. the cart in front overturns, a warning to the following cart (idiom); fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

曾: New to the HSK lists at HSK 5. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 曾 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.