chưa bao giờ

There are two common ways to structure this:

1. Subject + chưa bao giờ + Verb (+ Object)
2. Subject + chưa + Verb (+ Object) + bao giờ (This split structure is highly common in spoken Vietnamese, e.g., Tôi chưa ăn món này bao giờ. (I have never eaten this dish.))

Key Distinctions & Usage:

• Experience vs. Habit: English uses the word "never" for both habits ("I never drink coffee") and experiences ("I have never been to Paris"). Vietnamese strictly separates them. Use chưa bao giờ exclusively for experiences up to now. If you want to express a present habit or a future intention ("I never do that" or "I will never do that"), you must use không bao giờ.
• Alternative Form: You can also use the alternative form chưa từng, which is a slightly more formal or literary synonym for chưa bao giờ, though chưa bao giờ remains the standard, highly frequent form.
• Word Order Flexibility: While usually placed before the verb, chưa bao giờ can be placed at the very beginning of the sentence for dramatic emphasis (e.g., Chưa bao giờ tôi thấy điều này. (Never have I seen this.)).
• Asking and Answering "Have you ever?": To ask if someone has ever done something, you can use [Subject] + đã bao giờ + [Verb] + chưa? (or the alternative [Subject] + có bao giờ + [Verb] + chưa?, which is particularly common in Southern Vietnamese) or the equally common split structure [Subject] + đã + [Verb] + bao giờ chưa?. You can also use lần nào chưa? (e.g., Bạn đã ăn món này lần nào chưa? (Have you ever eaten this dish?)). To answer, you can use Chưa or Chưa bao giờ for a negative response, and Rồi or Đã từng for a positive response. Native speakers also frequently answer by repeating the verb (e.g., Chưa đi (Haven't gone), Chưa ăn (Haven't eaten), or Đi rồi (Have gone)).
• Adding Emphasis: To emphasize an absolute lack of experience ("never at all"), you can add the particle cả at the end of the sentence (e.g., Tôi chưa bao giờ ăn món này cả. (I have never eaten this dish at all.)).
• Register: This pattern is neutral and perfectly acceptable in all registers, from casual street conversation to formal academic writing.