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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
We have a few ways to say "[[always]]" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì). 老是 is usually used in the context of a complaint.
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We have a few ways to say "[[always]]" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì). 老是 is usually used in the context of a complaint, like how your sister is "always" hogging the bathroom.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== 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 [["Always" with "zongshi"|the word 总是]]. You can also use 老 instead of 老是.
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老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always." It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues and can be interchanged with [["Always" with "zongshi"|the word 总是]]. However, 老是 also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
老是 + Predicate
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老 (是) + Predicate
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
The [[predicate]] part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.  
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You can also use 老 instead of 老是. The [[predicate]] part of the pattern can be a [[verb]] or an adjective.  
  
When 老是 is used together with an adjective, 老是 is usually followed by an adverb such as 不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那 etc.
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When 老是 is used together with an [[adjective]], 老是 is usually followed by an [[adverb]] such as 不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那 etc.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Why do you always work late?</span>
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*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always working late?</span>
*那个 孩子 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge háizi <em>lǎo</em> shuō zāng huà.</span><span class="trans">That kid always says bad words.</span>
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*那个 孩子 <em>老</em> 说 脏话 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge háizi <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">That kid always says bad words.</span>
 
*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 不 高兴 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">How are you always unhappy?</span>
 
*你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 不 高兴 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">How are you always unhappy?</span>
*你 儿子 上课 的 时候 <em>老是</em> 说话 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ érzi shàngkè de shíhou <em>lǎoshì</em> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">Your son talks all the time in the class.</span>
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*你 儿子 上课 的 时候 <em>老是</em> 说话 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ érzi shàngkè de shíhou <em>lǎoshì</em> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">Your son talks all the time in class.</span>
 
*这个 老师 <em>老是</em> 这么 严肃 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī <em>lǎoshì</em> zhème yánsù.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is always so serious.</span>
 
*这个 老师 <em>老是</em> 这么 严肃 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī <em>lǎoshì</em> zhème yánsù.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is always so serious.</span>
 
*别 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 。<span class="pinyin">Bié <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn.</span><span class="trans">Stop complaining all the time.</span>
 
*别 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 。<span class="pinyin">Bié <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn.</span><span class="trans">Stop complaining all the time.</span>
*这个 机器 <em></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>
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*这个 机器 <em>老是</em> 出 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège jīqì <em>lǎoshì</em> chū wèntí.</span><span class="trans">There is always something wrong with this machine.</span>
 
*他 经常 迟到 ,还 <em>老是</em> 找 借口 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jīngcháng chídào, hái <em>lǎoshì</em> zhǎo jièkǒu.</span><span class="trans">He's always late. And he always makes excuses.</span>
 
*他 经常 迟到 ,还 <em>老是</em> 找 借口 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jīngcháng chídào, hái <em>lǎoshì</em> zhǎo jièkǒu.</span><span class="trans">He's always late. And he always makes excuses.</span>
*奶奶 <em>老是</em> 忘 带 钥匙 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>lǎoshì</em> wàng dài yàoshi.</span><span class="trans">My grandma forgets to take her keys all the time.</span>
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*奶奶 <em>老是</em> 忘 带 钥匙 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>lǎoshì</em> wàng dài yàoshi.</span><span class="trans">Grandma forgets to take her keys all the time.</span>
*你 <em>老是</em> 这么 凶 干吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lǎoshì</em> zhème xiōng gànmá?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always so mean to me?</span>
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*你 <em>老是</em> 这么 凶 干吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lǎoshì</em> zhème xiōng gànmá?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always so mean?</span>
*他 真 讨厌 ,<em>老是</em> 跟 朋友 借钱 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, <em>lǎoshì</em> gēn péngyou jièqián.</span><span class="trans">He's such a nuisance. He borrows money from his friend very often.</span>
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*他 真 讨厌 ,<em>老是</em> 跟 朋友 借钱 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, <em>lǎoshì</em> gēn péngyou jièqián.</span><span class="trans">He's such a nuisance. He's always borrowing money from his friends.</span>
  
 
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
{{Basic Grammar|老是|B1|Subj. + 老是 / 老 + Verb|你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ?|grammar point|ASGII66E}}
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{{Basic Grammar|老是|B1|Subj. + 老 (是 ) + Verb|你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ?|grammar point|ASGII66E}}
 
{{Rel char|老}}
 
{{Rel char|老}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}

Latest revision as of 08:26, 17 April 2019

We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì). 老是 is usually used in the context of a complaint, like how your sister is "always" hogging the bathroom.

Structure

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

老 (是) + Predicate

You can also use 老 instead of 老是. The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

When 老是 is used together with an adjective, 老是 is usually followed by an adverb such as 不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那 etc.

Examples

  • 你 怎么 老是 加班 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì jiābān?Why are you always working late?
  • 那个 孩子 说 脏话 。Nàge háizi lǎo shuō zānghuà.That kid always says bad words.
  • 你 怎么 老是 不 高兴 ?Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì bù gāoxìng? How are you always unhappy?
  • 你 儿子 上课 的 时候 老是 说话 。Nǐ érzi shàngkè de shíhou lǎoshì shuōhuà.Your son talks all the time in class.
  • 这个 老师 老是 这么 严肃 。Zhège lǎoshī lǎoshì zhème yánsù.This teacher is always so serious.
  • 老是 抱怨 。Bié lǎoshì bàoyuàn.Stop complaining all the time.
  • 这个 机器 老是 出 问题 。Zhège jīqì lǎoshì chū wèntí.There is always something wrong with this machine.
  • 他 经常 迟到 ,还 老是 找 借口 。Tā jīngcháng chídào, hái lǎoshì zhǎo jièkǒu.He's always late. And he always makes excuses.
  • 奶奶 老是 忘 带 钥匙 。Nǎinai lǎoshì wàng dài yàoshi.Grandma forgets to take her keys all the time.
  • 老是 这么 凶 干吗 ?lǎoshì zhème xiōng gànmá?Why are you always so mean?
  • 他 真 讨厌 ,老是 跟 朋友 借钱 。Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, lǎoshì gēn péngyou jièqián.He's such a nuisance. He's always borrowing money from his friends.

See also

Sources and further reading

Websites

Dictionaries