“Always” in Chinese 5 – 时时 shíshí

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 7-9
Grammar Point · HSK 7-9

时时 shíshí — “Constantly” / “All the Time”

时时 shíshí is an adverb used to describe actions or states that happen frequently or continuously.

時時 shíshí — Constantly, Chinese grammar

时时 shíshí sits before the verb — but reach for it only in writing or speeches, not everyday conversation.

1Structure

时时 shíshí + Verb / Verb Phrase

Point

The word 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时时shíshí提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ要yào谦虚qiānxū。
I constantly remind myself to be humble.
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时时shíshí都dōu黏nián在zài我wǒ脚边jiǎobiān。
My dog is always glued to my feet.
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.

2Common Mistake

❌ 在zài中国Zhōngguó的de时候shíhou，他tā时时shíshí去qù了le北京Běijīng
You can’t use 时时 shíshí with completed past actions — it implies repetition or habit, not a single completed event.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01She constantly worries about her aging parents.
她tā时时shíshí挂念guàniàn年迈niánmài的de父母fùmǔ。
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02He always keeps a notebook by his side to record his thoughts.
他tā时时shíshí在zài身边shēnbiān放fàng一yì本běn笔记本bǐjìběn，记录jìlù自己zìjǐ的de想法xiǎngfǎ。
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03The teacher constantly encourages us to think independently.
老师lǎoshī时时shíshí鼓励gǔlì我们wǒmen独立dúlì思考sīkǎo。
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04I always keep in mind the importance of honesty.
我wǒ时时shíshí谨记jǐnjì诚实chéngshí的de重要性zhòngyàoxìng。
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05She is constantly mindful of her words in front of others.
她tā时时shíshí注意zhùyì自己zìjǐ在zài他人tārén面前miànqián的de言辞yáncí。
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06He always carries a small gift for unexpected guests.
他tā时时shíshí准备zhǔnbèi一yí份fèn小xiǎo礼物lǐwù，以防yǐfáng有yǒu不速之客bùsùzhīkè。
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07We should always be grateful for what we have.
我们wǒmen应该yīnggāi时时shíshí感恩gǎn’ēn自己zìjǐ所suǒ拥有yōngyǒu的de一切yíqiè。
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08The old man always tells his grandchildren stories about the past.
老lǎo先生xiānshēng时时shíshí跟gēn孙子sūnzi讲述jiǎngshù过去guòqù的de故事gùshì。
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Related Grammar

→总 / 总是 — “Always”(HSK 3) →“Always” in Chinese — 从来 cónglái (HSK 4) →Different “always” in Chinese — 总是 zǒngshì, 老是 lǎoshì, 一向 yíxiàng, 一直 yìzhí

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