“Always” in Chinese 3 – 时时 shíshí

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 時時时时 shíshí means “constantly” or “all the time.” It is an adverb used to describe actions or states that happen frequently or continuously.

Structure

時時时时 shíshí + Verb / Verb Phrase

The word 時時时时 shíshí is not typically used in daily conversation. It is more formal or poetic, often appearing in literature, speeches, or writing with a more elegant tone.

他tā時時shíshí想xiǎng起qǐ母親mǔqīn的de教誨jiàohuì他tā时时shíshí想xiǎng起qǐ母亲mǔqīn的de教诲jiàohuì
He always thinks of his mother’s teachings.

我wǒ時時shíshí提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ要yào謙虚qiānxū我wǒ时时shíshí提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ要yào谦虚qiānxū
I constantly remind myself to be humble.

她tā時時shíshí關注guānzhù孩子háizi的de安全ānquán她tā时时shíshí关注guānzhù孩子háizi的de安全ānquán
She always pays attention to the child’s safety.

她tā時時shíshí把bǎ甜點tiándiǎn藏cáng在zài冰箱bīngxiāng最zuì裡面lǐmiàn， 怕pà自己zìjǐ半夜bànyè忍不住rěnbúzhù偷tōu吃chī她tā时时shíshí把bǎ甜点tiándiǎn藏cáng在zài冰箱bīngxiāng最zuì里面lǐmiàn， 怕pà自己zìjǐ半夜bànyè忍不住rěnbuzhù偷tōu吃chī
She constantly hides desserts deep in the fridge, afraid she’ll sneak one at midnight.

我wǒ時時shíshí提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ， 人生rénshēng不只bùzhǐ要yào上班shàngbān， 還hái要yào吃chī好吃hǎochī的de早餐zǎocān我wǒ时时shíshí提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ， 人生rénshēng不只bùzhǐ要yào上班shàngbān， 还hái要yào吃chī好吃hǎochī的de早餐zǎocān
I always remind myself: life isn’t just about work—it’s about having good breakfast too.

我wǒ的de狗gǒu時時shíshí都dōu黏nián在zài我wǒ腳邊jiǎobiān我wǒ的de狗gǒu时时shíshí都dōu黏nián在zài我wǒ脚边jiǎobiān
My dog is always glued to my feet.

他tā時時shíshí都dōu準備zhǔnbèi一yì支zhī雨傘yǔsǎn， 不是búshì為了wèile下雨xiàyǔ， 而是érshì為了wèile浪漫làngmàn他tā时时shíshí都dōu准备zhǔnbèi一yì支zhī雨伞yǔsǎn， 不是búshì为了wèile下雨xiàyǔ， 而是érshì为了wèile浪漫làngmàn
He always carries an umbrella. Not just for rain, but for moments of romance.

Common Mistakes

You can’t use 時時时时 shíshí with completed past actions (it implies repetition or habit).

在zài中國Zhōngguó的de時候shíhòu， 他tā時時shíshí去qù了le北京běijīng在zài中国Zhōngguó的de时候shíhou， 他tā时时shíshí去qù了le北京běijīng ❌
When he was in China, he always went to Beijing.

• “All along” in Chinese 1 – 一直 yìzhí (HSK 2)

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

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

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

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