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.

Different emphasis about 总是

When the subject is put after 总是 (zǒngshì)，the emphasis is on the subject itself. When the emphasis is on the predicate, the subject is put before 总是 (zǒngshì)。

Structure

总是＋subject+verb强调“总是”后面的主语。

subject+总是＋verb强调“总是”后面的动词。

Examples

• 总是 她 迟到。This sentence emphasizes that it is "her" who is late, not anyone else.It is she that is always late.
• 她 总是 迟到。This sentence emphasizes the frequency of her lateness. She is always late.

• 为什么 总是 你 吃 肉？我 也 想 吃。Emphasizes that person eating meat is "you".Why do you always eat meat? I also want to eat.
• 你 总是 吃 肉，这样 不 好。Emphasizes that you eat meat too often.You always eat meat, that is not good.

• 总是 这 个 老师 帮 我。Emphasizes that "this teacher" always helps, not another teacher.It is this teacher that always helps me.
• 这 个 老师 总是 帮 我。Emphasizes how often a certain teacher helps "me".This teacher always helps me.

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