先世系江(jiang)西彭澤人,曾(ceng)祖父(fu)曾(ceng)遜,祖父(fu)曾(ceng)輝。父(fu)曾(ceng)璠(fan),嘉靖(jing)四(si)(si)(si)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)壬戍(shu)科進士。曾(ceng)省吾生(sheng)于(yu)嘉靖(jing)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(1532年(nian)(nian)),嘉靖(jing)三十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)丙辰科進士。隆慶末(mo)年(nian)(nian),以右僉都(dou)御史(shi)巡撫四(si)(si)(si)川,《明(ming)史(shi)稿(gao)》稱其“嫻將略,善治邊”,“蒞事精勤,多(duo)有建白”。萬歷元年(nian)(nian),四(si)(si)(si)川敘州土司(si)都(dou)掌蠻叛(pan)亂,曾(ceng)省吾薦劉顯率(lv)領官兵十(shi)四(si)(si)(si)萬出征,“克寨六(liu)十(shi)余,俘斬四(si)(si)(si)千(qian)六(liu)百(bai)名,拓地(di)四(si)(si)(si)百(bai)余里,得諸(zhu)葛銅鼓九十(shi)三”。萬歷三年(nian)(nian)六(liu)月,升兵部右侍(shi)郎。
張居(ju)正(zheng)死(si)(si)后,曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)受(shou)到(dao)牽連,浙江道監察御史王(wang)國彈劾(he)曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)“勾結馮(feng)保(bao),相倚為奸”,“送馮(feng)保(bao)金銀若(ruo)干兩,圖(tu)謀(mou)升(sheng)官”,戶科給事(shi)中王(wang)繼光(guang)疏(shu)參(can)曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)“十(shi)(shi)罪”。高(gao)拱(gong)《病(bing)榻遺言》說(shuo):“隆慶六年(nian),曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)授意(yi)其門(men)生、戶科給事(shi)中曹大野彈劾(he)高(gao)拱(gong),并許(xu)以高(gao)官厚(hou)祿。”。萬歷十(shi)(shi)年(nian)十(shi)(shi)二(er)月(yue),被勒令致(zhi)仕。萬歷十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)四月(yue),邱(qiu)橓(shun)與(yu)錦(jin)衣衛(wei)都指揮(hui)曹應(ying)龍、司禮(li)監太監張誠前(qian)往張家(jia)抄家(jia),張居(ju)正(zheng)長子張敬(jing)修被屈(qu)打成招,供出曾(ceng)(ceng)經(jing)向曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)、王(wang)篆、傅作(zuo)舟三(san)家(jia)轉(zhuan)移、藏匿財產,約(yue)值銀三(san)十(shi)(shi)萬兩。張敬(jing)修最后自(zi)縊(yi)死(si)(si),臨死(si)(si)前(qian)寫下一絕命書(shu)。丘橓(shun)派(pai)人(ren)查封曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)等(deng)人(ren)家(jia)產,并將曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)、王(wang)篆法辦,“曾(ceng)(ceng)角巾(jin)青衣,王(wang)直(zhi)囚服乞哀,中官杖之”。萬歷十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)三(san)月(yue),工(gong)科給事(shi)中唐堯欽上書(shu)要求(qiu)重懲曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾(wu)(wu)(wu)。萬歷十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)十(shi)(shi)月(yue),籍沒家(jia)產,原籍為民,永不(bu)敘用。著有《確庵(an)曾(ceng)(ceng)先(xian)生西蜀平蠻全(quan)錄》(北京圖(tu)書(shu)館古籍珍本叢刊,第9冊,書(shu)目文(wen)獻(xian)出版社1988年(nian)),《千(qian)弓壩石橋(qiao)記》等(deng)。