“All along” in Chinese 1 – 一直 yìzhí

Grammar Point:
The Chinese adverb 一直 yìzhí is used to express the idea of “continuously” or “all along” in a sentence. It indicates that an action or state has been ongoing or persistent from a certain point in time up to the present or a specified point in the future.

Structure

S + 一直 yìzhí + (都 dōu) + V

By adding 都 dōu can emphasize the continuous nature of something.

他tā一直yìzhí在zài工作gōngzuò他tā一直yìzhí在zài工作gōngzuò
He has been working all along.

我wǒ一直yìzhí住zhù在zài台灣Táiwān我wǒ一直yìzhí住zhù在zài台湾Táiwān
I have been living in Taiwan all along.

她tā一直yìzhí都dōu想xiǎng找zhǎo一份yífèn高薪gāoxīn的de工作gōngzuò她tā一直yìzhí都dōu想xiǎng找zhǎo一份yífèn高薪gāoxīn的de工作gōngzuò
She has always wanted to find a high-paying job.

我wǒ從cóng小xiǎo到dào大dà一直yìzhí都dōu喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu我wǒ从cóng小xiǎo到dào大dà一直yìzhí都dōu喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu
I have always liked dogs since I was little.

他tā一直yìzhí都dōu很hěn有yǒu貴人guìrén運yùn他tā一直yìzhí都dōu很hěn有yǒu贵人guìrén运yùn
He has always had good fortune.

FYI
貴人運贵人运 guìrényùn is a wonderful concept in Chinese culture that represents ‘fortunate encounters’ or ‘benefactor luck.’ It’s like having a special charm that attracts helpful and influential people into your life. These amazing individuals become your guides, offering support, opportunities, and guidance that can lead you to success and good fortune.
Sometimes, in order to show humility, Chinese people attribute our success not to our own efforts but to the help of others. And say like 因為一直都有貴人幫助因为一直都有贵人帮助 yīnwèi yìzhí dōu yǒu guìrén bāngzhù (it’s thanks to the assistance of benefactors all along.)

S + 一直 yìzhí + Adjective

她tā一直yìzhí很hěn漂亮piàoliàng她tā一直yìzhí很hěn漂亮piàoliang
She has always been beautiful.

Tiffany 老師lǎoshī給gěi的de作業zuòyè一直yìzhí都dōu不bù少shǎoTiffany 老师lǎoshī给gěi的de作业zuòyè一直yìzhí都dōu不bù少shǎo
The assignments given by Teacher Tiffany have always been numerous.

北京běijīng的de空氣kōngqì一直yìzhí都dōu很hěn差chā北京běijīng的de空气kōngqì一直yìzhí都dōu很hěn差chà
The air in Beijing has always been terrible.

台北táiběi的de房價fángjià一直yìzhí非常fēicháng貴guì台北táiběi的de房价fángjià一直yìzhí非常fēicháng贵guì
The housing prices in Taipei have always been very expensive.

S + 一直 yìzhí + 到 dào + Time

一直 yìzhí can be used with time expressions to indicate the duration of an action or state.

我wǒ會huì一直yìzhí工作gōngzuò到dào61 歲suì我wǒ会huì一直yìzhí工作gōngzuò到dào61 岁suì
I will continue working until I’m 61.

她tā要yào一直yìzhí到dào後天hòutiān才cái會huì回來huílái她tā要yào一直yìzhí到dào后天hòutiān才cái会huì回来huílái
She will not return until the day after tomorrow.

我wǒ會不會huìbúhuì一直yìzhí到dào死sǐ也yě沒méi談tán過guò戀愛liànài我wǒ会不会huìbúhuì一直yìzhí到dào死sǐ也yě没méi谈tán过guò恋爱liànài
Will I never have been in a relationship until I die?

這次zhècì的de折扣zhékòu會huì一直yìzhí到dào下個月xiàgeyuè5 號hào这次zhècì的de折扣zhékòu会huì一直yìzhí到dào下个月xiàgeyuè5 号hào
This discount will continue until the 5th of next month.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I have been paying attention to you all along.

我wǒ一直yìzhí在zài注意zhùyì你nǐ我wǒ一直yìzhí在zài注意zhùyì你nǐ

✔️ But you never look at me.

可是kěshì你nǐ一直yìzhí都dōu不bú看kàn我wǒ可是kěshì你nǐ一直yìzhí都dōu不bú看kàn我wǒ

✔️ Are you always this disgusting?

你nǐ一直yìzhí都dōu這麼zhème噁心ěxīn嗎ma? 你nǐ一直yìzhí都dōu这么zhème恶心ěxīn吗ma?

• “All along” in Chinese 2 – 始終终 shǐzhōng (HSK 3)

• Adverbs of Frequency (HSK 3)
  (通常 tōngcháng, 往往 wǎngwǎng, and 總总是 zǒngshì)

• “Always” in Chinese 1 – 從來从来 cónglái (HSK 4)

• “Always” in Chinese 2 – 一向 yíxiàng (HSK 5)

• “Always” in Chinese
  總总是 zǒngshì, 老是 lǎoshì, 一向 yíxiàng and 一直 yìzhí