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 (lǎoshì).

Used with Verbs

Structure

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

老是 + Verb

You can also use "老" instead of "老是."

Examples

• 你 怎么 老是 加班 ？Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì jiābān?Why do you always work overtime?
• 他 老 说 脏 话 。Tā lǎo shuō zānghuà.He always says bad words.
• 这个 机器 老 出 问题 。Zhège jīqì lǎo chū wèntí.There is always something wrong with this machine.
• 他 老是 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。Tā lǎoshì bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.He complains about his life all the time.
• 你 老是 找 借口 。Nǐ lǎoshì zhǎo jièkǒu.You always make excuses.

Used with Adjectives

Structure

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

Subj. + 老是 + Adv. + Adj.

Examples

• 这个 老师 老是 很 严肃 。Zhège lǎoshī lǎoshì hěn yánsù.This teacher is always very serious.
• 你 老是 这么 凶 干吗 ？Nǐ lǎoshì zhème xiōng gànmá?Why are you always so mean to me?
• 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ？Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì bù gāoxìng? How are you always unhappy?
• 别 老是 那么 自恋 。Bié lǎoshì nàme zìliàn.Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.
• 你 家 的 东西 怎么 老是 坏 ？Nǐ jiā de dōngxi zěnme lǎoshì huài?How come there's always something broken in your house?

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