Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi"

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We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì). 老是 is usually used in the context of a complaint, like how your sister is "always" hogging the bathroom.

Structure

老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always." It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues and can be interchanged with the word 总是. However, 老是 also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone.

老 (是) + Predicate

You can also use 老 instead of 老是. The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

When 老是 is used together with an adjective, 老是 is usually followed by an adverb such as 不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那 etc.

Examples

  • 你 怎么 老是 加班 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì jiābān?Why are you always working late?
  • 那个 孩子 说 脏话 。Nàge háizi lǎo shuō zānghuà.That kid always says bad words.
  • 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì bù gāoxìng? How are you always unhappy?
  • 你 儿子 上课 的 时候 老是 说话 。Nǐ érzi shàngkè de shíhou lǎoshì shuōhuà.Your son talks all the time in class.
  • 这个 老师 老是 这么 严肃 。Zhège lǎoshī lǎoshì zhème yánsù.This teacher is always so serious.
  • 老是 抱怨 。Bié lǎoshì bàoyuàn.Stop complaining all the time.
  • 这个 机器 老是 出 问题 。Zhège jīqì lǎoshì chū wèntí.There is always something wrong with this machine.
  • 他 经常 迟到 ,还 老是 找 借口 。Tā jīngcháng chídào, hái lǎoshì zhǎo jièkǒu.He's always late. And he always makes excuses.
  • 奶奶 老是 忘 带 钥匙 。Nǎinai lǎoshì wàng dài yàoshi.Grandma forgets to take her keys all the time.
  • 老是 这么 凶 干吗 ?lǎoshì zhème xiōng gànmá?Why are you always so mean?
  • 他 真 讨厌 ,老是 跟 朋友 借钱 。Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, lǎoshì gēn péngyou jièqián.He's such a nuisance. He's always borrowing money from his friends.

See also

Sources and further reading

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