先世系江(jiang)西彭(peng)澤人,曾(ceng)(ceng)祖父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)遜,祖父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)輝。父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)璠,嘉(jia)靖(jing)四(si)(si)十一(yi)年(nian)壬戍科(ke)(ke)進士(shi)。曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾生于嘉(jia)靖(jing)十一(yi)年(nian)(1532年(nian)),嘉(jia)靖(jing)三(san)十五(wu)年(nian)丙(bing)辰科(ke)(ke)進士(shi)。隆慶末年(nian),以右僉(qian)都御史巡撫四(si)(si)川(chuan),《明史稿》稱其“嫻將(jiang)略(lve),善治邊”,“蒞事精勤(qin),多有建白(bai)”。萬歷(li)元(yuan)年(nian),四(si)(si)川(chuan)敘州土司都掌蠻叛亂,曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾薦(jian)劉顯率領官(guan)兵(bing)十四(si)(si)萬出征,“克寨六(liu)十余(yu),俘(fu)斬四(si)(si)千六(liu)百名,拓地四(si)(si)百余(yu)里,得(de)諸葛銅鼓九十三(san)”。萬歷(li)三(san)年(nian)六(liu)月,升兵(bing)部右侍郎。
張居正(zheng)(zheng)死(si)(si)后(hou)(hou),曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾受(shou)到牽連(lian),浙江道(dao)監(jian)察(cha)御(yu)史(shi)王(wang)國(guo)彈(dan)劾曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾“勾結馮保,相(xiang)倚為奸(jian)”,“送馮保金銀若干兩,圖謀升官(guan)”,戶科給事(shi)中(zhong)王(wang)繼光(guang)疏參曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾“十(shi)(shi)罪”。高(gao)(gao)拱《病榻遺言》說:“隆(long)慶六年,曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾授(shou)意其門(men)生、戶科給事(shi)中(zhong)曹大野彈(dan)劾高(gao)(gao)拱,并(bing)許(xu)以高(gao)(gao)官(guan)厚(hou)祿。”。萬(wan)(wan)歷十(shi)(shi)年十(shi)(shi)二月,被勒(le)令致仕。萬(wan)(wan)歷十(shi)(shi)二年四月,邱橓與錦衣衛都指揮曹應龍、司(si)禮監(jian)太監(jian)張誠(cheng)前往張家抄家,張居正(zheng)(zheng)長(chang)子張敬(jing)修被屈打成招(zhao),供出曾(ceng)(ceng)經向(xiang)曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾、王(wang)篆、傅(fu)作舟三(san)家轉移、藏(zang)匿財產(chan),約值銀三(san)十(shi)(shi)萬(wan)(wan)兩。張敬(jing)修最后(hou)(hou)自縊死(si)(si),臨死(si)(si)前寫下一絕命書。丘橓派人查封曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾等人家產(chan),并(bing)將(jiang)曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾、王(wang)篆法辦,“曾(ceng)(ceng)角巾青衣,王(wang)直(zhi)囚服乞(qi)哀,中(zhong)官(guan)杖之”。萬(wan)(wan)歷十(shi)(shi)二年三(san)月,工科給事(shi)中(zhong)唐堯(yao)欽上書要求重懲曾(ceng)(ceng)省(sheng)吾。萬(wan)(wan)歷十(shi)(shi)二年十(shi)(shi)月,籍沒家產(chan),原(yuan)籍為民,永不敘(xu)用。著有《確庵曾(ceng)(ceng)先生西(xi)蜀平蠻全錄》(北京圖書館古籍珍本叢刊,第9冊,書目文獻出版社1988年),《千弓壩石(shi)橋記(ji)》等。