Expressing "always" with "zongshi"

If you're always in the habit of doing something, or you have a daily routine, you can express this by using 总是 (zǒngshì). 总是 (zǒngshì) means "always," and like other adverbs, comes before the verb in a sentence.

总是 with Verbs

总是 (zǒngshì) is an adverb that is often translated to English as "always". It is placed before the verb that it modifies.

Structure

Subject + 总是 + Verb

Examples

• 他 总是 迟到。Tā zǒng shì chídào.He is always late.
• 我 总是 忘记 这 个 词。Wǒ zǒng shì wàngjì zhè gè cí.I always forget this word.
• 她 总是 买 很多 衣服。Tā zǒng shì mǎi hěnduō yīfú.She always buys a lot of clothes.
• 你 不 应该 总是 抱怨。Nǐ bù yīnggāi zǒng shì bàoyuàn.You shouldn't always complain.
• 他 总是 有 很 多 有意思 的 想法。Tā zǒng shì yǒu hěnduō yǒuyìsi de xiǎngfǎ.He always has a lot of interesting opinions.
• 为什么 你 总是 跟 那 个 老男人 在 一起？Wèishéme nǐ zǒng shì gēn nàgè lǎo nánrén zài yīqǐ?Why are you always together with that old man?
• 每 次 他 总是 点 红烧肉。Měi cì tā zǒng shì diǎn hóngshāo ròu.Every time he always orders braised meat.
• 她 总是 穿 裙子。Tā zǒng shì chuān qúnzi.She always wears skirts.
• 小 孩子 不 能 总是 吃 肉。Xiǎo háizi bùnéng zǒng shì chī ròu.Young children can't always eat meat.
• 他 总是 一 个 人 吃 饭。Tā zǒng shì yīgè rén chīfàn.He always eats alone.

总是 with Adjectives

Structure with Adjectives

When 总是 (zǒngshì) is used together with an adjective, you will need to add a modifier in the middle, such as "这么 (zhème)", "那么 (nàme)", "很 (hěn)", "特别 (tèbié)" etc.

总是 + Modifier + Adj.

Examples

• 你 回家 总是 这么 晚。Nǐ huí jiā zǒng shì zhème wǎn.You always come home really late.
• 海南 总是 那么 热。Hǎinán zǒng shì nàme rè.Hainan is always that hot.
• 别 总是 不 高兴。Bié zǒng shì bù gāoxìng.Don't always be unhappy.
• 她 总是 很 开心，真好！Tā zǒng shì hěn kāixīn, zhēn hǎo!She is always excited, that's good!
• 这 个 饭店 的 面 总是 那么 好吃。Zhè gè fàndiàn de miàn zǒng shì nàme hào chī.This restaurant's noodles are always really delicious.
• 你 为什么 总是 这么 忙？Nǐ wèishéme zǒng shì zhème máng?Why are you always so busy?
• 他 总是 很 累。Tā zǒng shì hěn lèi.He is always tired.
• 下雨 的 时候，我 总是 很 难过。Xià yǔ de shíhòu, wǒ zǒng shì hěn nánguò.When it rains, I am always very sad.
• 中国 菜 总是 这么 油。Zhōngguó cài zǒng shì zhème yóu.Chinese food is always oily.
• 中国 人 总是 那么 热情。Zhōngguó rén zǒng shì nàme rèqíng.Chinese people are always cordial.
• 他 做 事 总是 那么 慢。Tā zuòshì zǒng shì nàme màn.He always does things so slow.

See also

• "Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"
• "Always" with "conglai"

Sources and further reading

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (p. 271) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 18) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 79) →buy