The Chinese 'once' that says 'but not now' first

Where the picture shows up in 曾经

1. 1

   the old workplace photo

   我曾经在北京工作过三年。

   wǒ céng jīng zài běi jīng gōng zuò guo sān nián

   I once worked in Beijing for three years.

   An expired staff badge lying on an open palm, being studied

   With 过 it says you have been through that experience.

2. 2

   the old sign on this spot

   这里曾经是一家小书店。

   zhè lǐ céng jīng shì yì jiā xiǎo shū diàn

   This was once a small bookshop.

   A finger tracing the ghost of old lettering on the wall beneath a new sign

3. 3

   pulling out someone else's old photo

   他曾经也不会说中文。

   tā céng jīng yě bú huì shuō zhōng wén

   He could not speak Chinese once either.

   A hand on a discouraged junior's shoulder while an old notebook of yours is opened up

   In comforting, it pairs with 也.

4. 4

   pulling out your own old photo

   我曾经很怕坐飞机，现在好了。

   wǒ céng jīng hěn pà zuò fēi jī, xiàn zài hǎo le

   I once feared flying, but I am fine now.

   Sitting easy in a window seat, looking down at the armrest you used to grip

   A following 现在 makes the 'not any more' unmistakable.

5. 5

   the photo pulled out in a clinic

   您曾经做过这个手术吗？

   nín céng jīng zuò guo zhè ge shǒu shù ma

   Have you ever had this surgery before?

   A doctor holding a chart, pen resting on the box for past procedures