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

Line 42: Line 42:
 
* 你 为什么 <em>总是</em> 很 忙?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn máng?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always very busy?</span>
 
* 你 为什么 <em>总是</em> 很 忙?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn máng?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always very busy?</span>
 
* 你 家 <em>总是</em> 很 干净。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">Your house is always very clean.</span>
 
* 你 家 <em>总是</em> 很 干净。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">Your house is always very clean.</span>
* 他 做事 <em>总是</em> 很 慢。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò shì <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn màn.</span><span class="trans">He always does things very slow.</span>
 
 
* 孩子们 <em>总是</em> 非常 开心。<span class="pinyin">Háizi men <em>zǒngshì</em> fēicháng kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">The children are always very happy.</span>
 
* 孩子们 <em>总是</em> 非常 开心。<span class="pinyin">Háizi men <em>zǒngshì</em> fēicháng kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">The children are always very happy.</span>
 +
* 我 的 学生 <em>总是</em> 特别 努力。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>zǒngshì</em> tèbié nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">My students are always very hardworking.</span>
 +
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 09:47, 19 May 2017

If you are trying to describe a daily routine, a habit, or just something that consistently happens, 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 (zǒngshì) 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 zhège cí. I always forget this word.
  • 总是 一个人 吃饭。zǒngshì yīgèrén chīfàn. He always eats alone.
  • 你 男朋友 总是 说 脏话。Nǐ nánpéngyou zǒngshì shuō zānghuà. Your boyfriend always uses foul language.
  • 我 的 学生 总是 问 我 很多 有意思 的 问题。Wǒ de xuéshēng zǒngshì wèn wǒ hěn duō yǒu yìsi de wèntí.My students always ask me lots of interesting questions.

总是 (zǒngshì) with Adjectives

Structure

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

总是 + Adv. + Adj.

Examples

  • 总是 很 累。zǒngshì hěn lèi.He is always tired.
  • 你 为什么 总是 很 忙?Nǐ wèishénme zǒngshì hěn máng?Why are you always very busy?
  • 你 家 总是 很 干净。Nǐ jiā zǒngshì hěn gānjìng.Your house is always very clean.
  • 孩子们 总是 非常 开心。Háizi men zǒngshì fēicháng kāixīn.The children are always very happy.
  • 我 的 学生 总是 特别 努力。Wǒ de xuéshēng zǒngshì tèbié nǔlì.My students are always very hardworking.


See also

Sources and further reading