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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
总是 (zǒngshì)and 老是 (lǎoshì) have the same meaning. Both can be interchanged in the same sentence.
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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 [[adverb]]s, comes before the verb in a sentence.
  
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== 总是 (zǒngshì) with Verbs==
  
== Structure with Verbs==
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总是 (zǒngshì) is an adverb that is often translated to English as "always." It is placed before the verb that it modifies.
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
总是 + V.
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Subj. + 总是 + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。<span class="trans">He is always late.</span>
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* 小 孩子 不能 <em>总是</em> 吃 肉 不 吃 蔬菜。<span class="trans">Children cannot always eat meat and never eat vegetables.</span>
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*他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans">He is always late.</span>
* 我 <em>总是</em> 忘记 这 个 词。<span class="trans">I always forget this word.</span>
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*<em>总是</em> 忘记 这 个 词。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zǒngshì</em> wàngjì zhège cí.</span><span class="trans">I always forget this word.</span>
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*他 <em>总是</em> 一个人 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> yīgèrén chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">He always eats alone.</span>
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*你 男朋友 <em>总是</em>  说 脏话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nánpéngyou <em>zǒngshì</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend always uses foul language.</span>
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*我 的 学生 <em>总是</em> 问 我 很多 有意思 的 问题。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>zǒngshì</em> wèn wǒ hěn duō yǒu yìsi de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">My students always ask me lots of interesting questions.</span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure with Adjectives==
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== 总是 (zǒngshì) with Adjectives==
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=== Structure ===
  
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.
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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), [[Adjectives with "name" and "zheme"|这么 (zhème), 那么 (nàme),]] etc.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
总是 + adjunct word + Adjectives
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总是 + Adv. + Adj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 你 回家 <em>总是</em> 这么 晚。<span class="trans">When you come home your are this late.</span>
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* 海南 <em>总是</em> 那么 热。<span class="trans">Hainan is always that hot.</span>
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* 他 <em>总是</em> 很 累。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn lèi.</span><span class="trans">He is always tired.</span>
* <em>总是</em> 不 高兴。<span class="trans">Don't always be be unhappy.</span>
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* 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>
* <em>总是</em> 很 开心,真好!<span class="trans">She is always excited, that's good!</span>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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 hard-working.</span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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*[["Always" with "conglai"]]
 
*[["Always" with "conglai"]]
 
   
 
   
== Sources and further reading ==
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== Sources and further reading ==
=== Books ===
 
  
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 271) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|271}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|18}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|79}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|总是|A2|总是 + V.|他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。|grammar point|ASGXJPJS}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{Basic Grammar|总是|A2|总是 + Verb|他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。|grammar point|ASGXJPJS}}
 
{{Rel char|老是}}
 
{{Rel char|老是}}
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{{Rel char|总}}
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{{Rel char|老}}
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{{Similar|"All along" with "yizhi"}}
 
{{Similar|"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Always" with "conglai"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Always" with "conglai"}}   
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{{Used for|Expressing frequency}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing frequency}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
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{{Translation|always}}

Latest revision as of 09:31, 2 April 2019

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 hard-working.


See also

Sources and further reading