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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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 [[adverb]]s, comes before the verb in a 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.
  
== 总是 with Verbs==
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== 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.
+
总是 (zǒngshì) is an adverb that is often translated to English as "always." It is placed before the verb that it modifies.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans">He is always late.</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="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zǒngshì</em> wàngjì zhè ge cí.</span><span class="trans">I always forget this word.</span>  
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*我 <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>  
* 他 <em>总是</em> 一 个 人 吃 饭。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> yīgè rén chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">He always eats alone.</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>
* 这 个 小孩 <em>总是</em>  给 我 麻烦。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xiǎohái <em>zǒngshì</em> gěi wǒ máfan.</span><span class="trans">This kid's always given me trouble.</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>
* 我 的 学生 <em>总是</em> 很多 有意思 的 问题。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>zǒngshì</em> yǒu hěnduō yǒuyìsi de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">My students always have a lot of interesting questions.</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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 总是 with Adjectives==
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== 总是 (zǒngshì) with Adjectives==
  
=== Structure with Adjectives===
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=== Structure ===
  
When 总是 (zǒngshì) is used together with an adjective, you will need to add a modifier in the middle, such as [[Adjectives with "name" and "zheme"|"这么 (zhème)," "那么 (nàme),"]] "很 (hěn)," "特别 (tèbié)" 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 + Modifier + Adj.
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总是 + Adv. + Adj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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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>
 
* 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="pinyin">Bié <em>zǒngshì</em> bù gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">Don't always 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>
* 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>
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* 你 <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> 那么 慢。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuòshì <em>zǒngshì</em> nàme màn.</span><span class="trans">He always does things so slow.</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>
* 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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* 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 ==
  
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (p. 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}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 18) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|18}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 79) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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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}}
 
{{Rel char|总}}
 
{{Rel char|总}}
 
{{Rel char|老}}
 
{{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"}}   

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