Synonyms of “Always” in Chinese

There are four ways to say “always” in Chinese, and these are the words 總是总是 zǒngshì, 老是 lǎoshì, 一向 yíxiàng and 一直 yìzhí. However, there are subtle differences in the nuances of these words that are worth noting:

總总是 zǒngshì

總是总是 zǒngshì is used to emphasize a high probability or frequency.

他tā上午shàngwǔ八點bādiǎn總是zǒngshì在zài圖書館túshūguǎn看書kànshū他tā上午shàngwǔ八点bādiǎn总是zǒngshì在zài图书馆túshūguǎn看书kànshū
He is always in the library at 8:00 a.m. reading books.

父母fùmǔ總是zǒngshì在zài孩子háizi需要xūyào他們tāmen時shí給予jǐyǔ幫助bāngzhù父母fùmǔ总是zǒngshì在zài孩子háizi需要xūyào他们tāmen时shí给予jǐyǔ帮助bāngzhù
Parents are always there to help their children when they need them.

老是 lǎoshì

This adverb is often used to express a sense of annoyance or frustration, and can sometimes have a negative connotation. It implies that something happens too frequently or continuously, to the point of being irritating.

你nǐ為什麼wèishénme老是lǎoshì遲到chídào？？你nǐ为什么wèishénme老是lǎoshì迟到chídào？？
Why are you always late?

我wǒ說shuō的de話huà， 他tā老是lǎoshì不bú記得jìdé我wǒ说shuō的de话huà， 他tā老是lǎoshì不bú记得jìdé
He always doesn’t remember what I say.

一向 yíxiàng

This one tends to be used more in formal or polite language and can also imply a sense of consistency or habit. Compared to the other adverbs, 一向 yíxiàng is often used to describe someone’s long-standing habit or a situation that has been consistently maintained over time, like a constant fact.

台灣táiwān一向yíxiàng沒有méiyǒu給gěi小費xiǎofèi的de文化wénhuà台湾táiwān一向yíxiàng没有méiyǒu给gěi小费xiǎofèi的de文化wénhuà
Taiwan has never had a culture of tipping.

我wǒ認識rènshì這zhè位wèi爺爺yéye五十wǔshí年nián了le， 他tā一向yíxiàng給gěi人rén謙虛qiānxū有禮貌yǒulǐmào的de印象yìnxiàng我wǒ认识rènshi这zhè位wèi爷爷yéye五十wǔshí年nián了le， 他tā一向yíxiàng给gěi人rén谦虚qiānxū有礼貌yǒulǐmào的de印象yìnxiàng
I have known this old man for fifty years. He has always given an impression of modesty and politeness.

一直 yìzhí

It typically refers to something that is continuous or uninterrupted. And it can also be used to describe a situation that persists over a period of time.

我wǒ從cóng去年qùnián開始kāishǐ就jiù一直yìzhí學習xuéxí中文zhōngwén我wǒ从cóng去年qùnián开始kāishǐ就jiù一直yìzhí学习xuéxí中文zhōngwén
I have been learning Chinese since last year.

我wǒ一直yìzhí想xiǎng去qù歐洲ōuzhōu旅遊lǚyóu一次yícì我wǒ一直yìzhí想xiǎng去qù欧洲ōuzhōu旅游lǚyóu一次yícì
I’ve always wanted to travel to Europe once.

Comparison

Practice

1. He always arrives on time.

2. We always celebrate Thanksgiving with a big family dinner.

3. He always arrives early.

4. It rained a lot last month.

5. It has been raining for a week.

6. I have no clue till now.