Expressing "always" with "zongshi"

\r\n总是 （zǒngshì）and 老是 （lǎoshì) have the same meaning. Both can be interchanged in the same sentence.\r\n == Structure with Verbs==\r\n"总是" is an adverb that is often translated to English as "always". It is placed before the verb that it modifies.\r\n

Subject + 总是 + Verb

\r\n== Examples ==

\r\n* 我 总是 忘记 这 个 词。I always forget this word.

• 他 总是 迟到。He is always late.
• 她 总是 花 很 多 钱 买 衣服。She always spends a lot of money buying clothes.
• 你 不 应该 总是 抱怨。You shouldn't always complain.
• 他 总是 有 很 多 有意思 的 想法。He always has a lot of interesting opinions.
• 为什么 你 总是 跟 那 个 老男人 在 一起？Why are you always together with that old man?
• 每 次 在 饭店 点菜，他 总是 点 红烧肉。Every time when ordering food at a restaurant, he always orders red-cooked meat.
• 她 总是 穿 裙子。She always wears skirts.
• 小 孩子 不能 总是 吃 肉。Young children can't eat meat all the time.
• 他 总是 一 个 人 吃 饭。He always eats alone.

\r\n== Structure with Adjectives==\r\nWhen 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.\r\n

总是 + Modifier + Adj.

\r\n== Examples ==\r\n

• 你 回家 总是 这么 晚。You always come home really late.
• 海南 总是 那么 热。Hainan is always that hot.
• 别 总是 不 高兴。Don't always be unhappy.
• 她 总是 很 开心，真好！She is always excited, that's good!
• 这 个 饭店 的 炒 面 总是 那么 好吃。This restaurant's fried noodles are always really delicious.
• 你 为什么 总是 这么 忙？Why are you always so busy?
• 他 总是 觉得 很 累。He always feels very tired.
• 下雨 的 时候，我 总是 很 难过。When it rains, I am always very sad.
• 中国 菜 总是 这么 油。Chinese food is always oily.
• 中国 人 总是 那么 热情。Chinese people are always cordial.
• 他 做 事 总是 那么 慢。His work is always slow.

\r\n==Different emphasis about 总是==\r\nWhen the subject is put after 总是，the emphasis is on the subject itself. When the emphasis is on the predicate, the subject is put before 总是。\r\n

\r\n总是＋subject+verb强调“总是”后面的主语。\r\nsubject+总是＋verb强调“总是”后面的动词。

\r\n== Examples ==\r\n

• 总是 她 迟到。这句话强调总是迟到的人是“她”，不是别人。It is she that is always late.
• 她 总是 迟到。这句话强调她迟到的次数很多。 She is always late.
• 为什么 总是 你 吃 肉，我 也 想 吃。强调吃肉的人是“你”。Why do you always eat meat, I also want to eat.
• 你 总是 吃 肉，这样 不 好。强调你吃肉太多。You always eat meat, that is not good.
• 总是 这 个 老师 帮 我。强调这个老师帮忙，不是别的老师。It is this teacher that always helps me.
• 这 个 老师 总是 帮 我。强调这个老师经常做的事情，是帮我This teacher always helps me.

\r\n==See also==\r\n*"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"

• "Always" with "conglai"

== Sources and further reading ==\r\n* Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 271) →buy

• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 18) →buy\r\n