Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi"

We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshi).

Structure with a verb

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

老是 + Verb

Examples

• 不要 老是 笑话 别人。Don't laugh at other people all the time.
• 他 老是 喜欢 说 脏 话。He always likes saying dirty words.
• 你 怎么 老是 加班。You always work overtime.

Structure with Adjective

When it is used together with an adjective, it usually has an adverb before it, such as "很, 非常, 这么, 那么" etc.

老是 + (Adverb +) Adjective

Examples

• 你 怎么 老是 这么 高兴？How are you always so happy?
• 他 的 脸 老是 很 红，很 可爱。His face is always red and cute.

See also

• "Always" with "conglai"
• "Never" with "conglai"

Sources and further reading

Websites

• Qingwen: Always in Chinese: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 老是

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) →buy