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). 老是 is usually used in the context of a complaint, like how your sister is "always" hogging the bathroom.

Structure

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

老 (是) + Predicate

You can also use 老 instead of 老是. The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

When 老是 is used together with an adjective, 老是 is usually followed by an adverb such as 不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那 etc.

Examples

• 你 怎么 老是 加班 ？Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì jiābān?Why are you always working late?
• 那个 孩子 老 说 脏 话 。Nàge háizi lǎo shuō zānghuà.That kid always says bad words.
• 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ？Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì bù gāoxìng? How are you always unhappy?
• 你 儿子 上课 的 时候 老是 说话 。Nǐ érzi shàngkè de shíhou lǎoshì shuōhuà.Your son talks all the time in the class.
• 这个 老师 老是 这么 严肃 。Zhège lǎoshī lǎoshì zhème yánsù.This teacher is always so serious.
• 别 老是 抱怨 。Bié lǎoshì bàoyuàn.Stop complaining all the time.
• 这个 机器 老 出 问题 。Zhège jīqì lǎo chū wèntí.There is always something wrong with this machine.
• 他 经常 迟到 ，还 老是 找 借口 。Tā jīngcháng chídào, hái lǎoshì zhǎo jièkǒu.He's always late. And he always makes excuses.
• 奶奶 老是 忘 带 钥匙 。Nǎinai lǎoshì wàng dài yàoshi.My grandma forgets to take her keys all the time.
• 你 老是 这么 凶 干吗 ？Nǐ lǎoshì zhème xiōng gànmá?Why are you always so mean to me?
• 他 真 讨厌 ，老是 跟 朋友 借钱 。Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, lǎoshì gēn péngyou jièqián.He's such a nuisance. He borrows money from his friend very often.

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) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy