Difference between revisions of "Expressing "always" with "zongshi""

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* 你 为什么 <em>总是</em> 这么 忙?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishéme <em>zǒngshì</em> zhème máng?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always so busy?</span>
 
* 你 为什么 <em>总是</em> 这么 忙?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishéme <em>zǒngshì</em> zhème máng?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always so busy?</span>
 
* 他 做 事 <em>总是</em> 那么 慢。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuòshì <em>zǒngshì</em> nàme màn.</span><span class="trans">He always does things so slow.</span>
 
* 他 做 事 <em>总是</em> 那么 慢。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuòshì <em>zǒngshì</em> nàme màn.</span><span class="trans">He always does things so slow.</span>
* <em>总是</em> 这么 晚 回家。<span class="pinyin"><em>zǒngshì</em> zhème wǎn huí jiā.</span><span class="trans">You always come home really late.</span>
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* 妈妈 睡觉 <em>总是</em> 那么 晚。<span class="pinyin">Māma shuìjiào <em>zǒngshì</em> nàme wǎn.</span><span class="trans">Mom always goes to bed so late.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 02:07, 6 November 2015

If you are trying to describe a daily routine, a habit, or a consistency you can use the word 总是 (zǒngshì). 总是 (zǒngshì) means "always," and like other adverbs, comes before the verb in a sentence.

总是 with Verbs

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

Structure

Subj. + 总是 + Verb

Examples

  • 总是 迟到。zǒngshì chídào.He is always late.
  • 总是 忘记 这 个 词。zǒngshì wàngjì zhè ge cí.I always forget this word.
  • 总是 一 个 人 吃 饭。zǒngshì yīgè rén chīfàn.He always eats alone.
  • 这 个 小孩 总是 给 我 麻烦。Zhège xiǎohái zǒngshì gěi wǒ máfan.This kid's always given me trouble.
  • 我 的 学生 总是 有 很多 有意思 的 问题。 Wǒ de xuéshēng zǒngshì yǒu hěnduō yǒuyìsi de wèntí.My students always have a lot of interesting questions.

总是 with Adjectives

Structure with Adjectives

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

总是 + Modifier + Adj.

Examples

  • 总是 很 累。zǒngshì hěn lèi.He is always tired.
  • 总是 不 高兴。Bié zǒngshì bù gāoxìng.Don't always be unhappy.
  • 你 为什么 总是 这么 忙?Nǐ wèishéme zǒngshì zhème máng?Why are you always so busy?
  • 他 做 事 总是 那么 慢。Tā zuòshì zǒngshì nàme màn.He always does things so slow.
  • 妈妈 睡觉 总是 那么 晚。Māma shuìjiào zǒngshì nàme wǎn.Mom always goes to bed so late.

See also

Sources and further reading