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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshi).
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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 with a verb==
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== Structure ==
  
老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always". It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues. It also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone. It can be interchanged with [["Always" with "zongshi"|the word 总是]].
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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">
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老 (是) + Predicate
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</div>
  
老是 + Verb
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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.
  
</div>
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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 ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 不要 <em>老是</em> 笑话 别人。<span class="trans">Don't laugh at other people all the time.</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>
* 他 <em>老是</em> 喜欢 说 脏 话。<span class="trans">He always likes saying dirty 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> 加班。<span class="trans">You always work overtime.</span>
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*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>
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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>
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*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>
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*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>
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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>
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*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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure with Adjective==
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== See also ==
  
When it is used together with an adjective, it usually has an adverb before it, such as "很, 非常, 这么, 那么" etc.
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
老是 + (Adverb +) Adjective
 
 
</div>
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 这么 高兴?<span class="trans">How are you always so happy?</span>
 
* 他 的 脸 <em>老是</em> 很 红,很 可爱。<span class="trans">His face is always red and cute.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
 
==See also==
 
 
*[["Always" with "conglai"]]
 
*[["Always" with "conglai"]]
 
*[["Never" with "conglai"]]
 
*[["Never" with "conglai"]]
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
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=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
  
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=== Dictionaries ===
 
=== Dictionaries ===
  
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (pp. 145) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|现代汉语词典(第5版)|145}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
{{Basic Grammar|老是|B1|老是 + Verb|不要 <em>老是</em> 笑话 别人 。|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