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 complaining.

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. You can also use 老 instead of 老是.

老是 + Predicate

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 do you always work late?
• 那个 孩子 老 说 脏 话 。Nàge háizi lǎo shuō zāng huà.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