Expressing "since the beginning" with "yixiang"
Revision as of 07:07, 8 November 2011 by Jonathan.pope (talk | contribs)
一向 (yī xiàng) is generally used to express a habit, attitude, or ‘set way of things' has continued for a long period of time until the present.
For example:
- 他 一向 是 个 好 学生，怎么 可能 会 作弊 呢？
- 中国人 一向 把 红色 视为 吉祥 喜庆 的 颜色。
- 云南 的 雨季 一向 来 得 很 突然。
- 他 的 态度 一向 很 认真。
一向 cannot be used with verbs involving changes or actions. In this case, 一直 should be used:
So we cannot say:
- 中国 的 经济 一向发展 得 很快.
- 他 一向 都 在 学 汉语.
一向 indicates that a certain state has continued until the present. It cannot be used to express actions in the future. Again, 一直 can be used instead For example:
- 你打算一向在上海工作吗？
