Difference between revisions of "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). | We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì). | ||
| − | == Structure == | + | == Used with Verbs == |
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| + | === 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 [["Always" with "zongshi"|the word 总是]]. | 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 [["Always" with "zongshi"|the word 总是]]. | ||
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*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Why do you always work overtime?</span> | *你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Why do you always work overtime?</span> | ||
*他 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">He always says bad words.</span> | *他 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">He always says bad words.</span> | ||
| − | * | + | *这个 机器 <em>老</em> 出 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège jīqì <em>lǎo</em> chū wèntí.</span><span class="trans">There is always something wrong with this machine.</span> |
*他 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.</span><span class="trans">He always complains about his life.</span> | *他 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.</span><span class="trans">He always complains about his life.</span> | ||
*不要 <em>老是</em> 笑话 别人 。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào <em>lǎoshì</em> xiàohuà biérén.</span><span class="trans">Don't laugh at other people all the time.</span> | *不要 <em>老是</em> 笑话 别人 。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào <em>lǎoshì</em> xiàohuà biérén.</span><span class="trans">Don't laugh at other people all the time.</span> | ||
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*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">How are you always unhappy?</span> | *你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">How are you always unhappy?</span> | ||
| − | * | + | *这个 老师 <em>老是</em> 很 严肃 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī <em>lǎoshì</em> hěn yánsù.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is always very serious.</span> |
| − | * | + | *别 <em>老是</em> 那么 自恋 。<span class="trans">Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.</span> |
| − | * | + | *你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 这么 倒霉 ？<span class="trans">How come you're always so unlucky?</span> |
| + | *我 家 <em>老是</em> 。<span class="trans">Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 03:08, 1 September 2017
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Keywords
We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì).
Contents
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 ？Why do you always work overtime?
- 他 老 说 脏 话 。He always says bad words.
- 这个 机器 老 出 问题 。There is always something wrong with this machine.
- 他 老是 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。He always complains about his life.
- 不要 老是 笑话 别人 。Don't laugh at other people all the time.
Used with Adjective
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.
老是 (+ Adv.) + Adj.
Examples
- 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ？How are you always unhappy?
- 这个 老师 老是 很 严肃 。This teacher is always very serious.
- 别 老是 那么 自恋 。Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.
- 你 怎么 老是 这么 倒霉 ？How come you're always so unlucky?
- 我 家 老是 。Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.
See also
Sources and further reading
Websites
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) →buy
