Expressing "always" with "zongshi"

总是（zǒngshì）and 老是（lǎoshì) have the same meaning. Both can be interchanged in the same sentence.

Structure with Verbs

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

Subject + 总是 + Verb

我总是忘记这个词。I always forget this word.
他总是迟到。He is always late.
她总是花很多钱买衣服。She always spends a lot of money buying clothes.
你不应该总是抱怨。You shouldn't always complain.
他总是有很多有意思的想法。He always has a lot of interesting opinions.
为什么你总是跟那个老男人在一起？Why are you always together with that old man?
每次在饭店点菜，他总是点红烧肉。Every time when ordering food at a restaurant, he always orders red-cooked meat.
她总是穿裙子。She always wears skirts.
小孩子不能总是吃肉。Young children can't eat meat all the time.
他总是一个人吃饭。He always eats alone.

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

总是 + Modifier + Adj.

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

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。

总是她迟到。This sentence emphasizes that it is specifically "her" who is late, not any other person.It is she that is always late.
她总是迟到。This sentence emphasizes that 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。<span class="expl"Emphasizes how often a certain teacher helps "me".This teacher always helps me.