Difference between revisions of "Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi""

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*他 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">He always says bad words.</span>
 
*他 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">He always says bad words.</span>
 
*这个 机器 <em>老</em> 出 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège jīqì <em>lǎo</em> chū wèntí.</span><span class="trans">There is always something wrong with this machine.</span>
 
*这个 机器 <em>老</em> 出 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège jīqì <em>lǎo</em> chū wèntí.</span><span class="trans">There is always something wrong with this machine.</span>
*他 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.</span><span class="trans">He always complains about his life.</span>
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*他 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.</span><span class="trans">He complains about his life all the time.</span>
*<em>老是</em> 找 借口 。<span class="pinyin"><em>lǎoshì</em> zhǎo jièkǒu.</span><span class="trans">She makes excuses all the time.</span>
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*<em>老是</em> 找 借口 。<span class="pinyin"><em>lǎoshì</em> zhǎo jièkǒu.</span><span class="trans">You always make excuses.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:11, 1 September 2017

We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì).

Used with Verbs

Structure

老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always." It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues. 老是 also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone and can be interchanged with the word 总是.

老是 + Verb

You can also use "老" instead of "老是."

Examples

  • 你 怎么 老是 加班 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì jiābān?Why do you always work overtime?
  • 说 脏 话 。lǎo shuō zānghuà.He always says bad words.
  • 这个 机器 出 问题 。Zhège jīqì lǎo chū wèntí.There is always something wrong with this machine.
  • 老是 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。lǎoshì bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.He complains about his life all the time.
  • 老是 找 借口 。lǎoshì zhǎo jièkǒu.You always make excuses.

Used with Adjectives

Structure

When it is used together with an adjective, 老是 usually has an adverb such as "不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那么" etc., after it.

老是 (+ Adv.) + Adj.

Examples

  • 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì bù gāoxìng? How are you always unhappy?
  • 这个 老师 老是 很 严肃 。Zhège lǎoshī lǎoshì hěn yánsù.This teacher is always very serious.
  • 老是 那么 自恋 。Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.
  • 你 怎么 老是 这么 倒霉 ?How come you're always so unlucky?
  • 我 家 老是Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Dictionaries