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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Expressing "always" with "zongshi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22always%22_with_%22zongshi%22) (A2) - [Expressing "always" with "conglai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22always%22_with_%22conglai%22) (B1) - [Comparing "buduan" and "buting"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22buduan%22_and_%22buting%22) (B2)

Used for

[Expressing frequency](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_frequency), [Expressing attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude)

Keywords

[老是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%80%81%E6%98%AF), [老](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%80%81), [是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%98%AF)

Translations

[always](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Always)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-lao.jpg](Using%20%22always%22%20as%20a%20complaint%20with%20%22laoshi%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-lao.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-lao.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-lao.jpg)

We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì).

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Websites](#Websites "wikilink") - [4.2 Dictionaries](#Dictionaries "wikilink")

Structure --------------------------------------------------------- 老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always." It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues. 老是 also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone and can be interchanged with [the word 总是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Always%22_with_%22zongshi%22). You can also use 老 instead of 老是.

老是 + Predicate

The [predicate](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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 do you always work late? - 那个孩子 *老* 说脏话。Nàge háizi *lǎo* shuō zāng huà.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 the class. - 这个老师 *老是* 这么严肃。Zhège lǎoshī *lǎoshì* zhème yánsù.This teacher is always so serious. - 别 *老是* 抱怨。Bié *lǎoshì* bàoyuàn.Stop complaining all the time. - 这个机器 *老* 出问题。Zhège jīqì *lǎo* 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.My grandma forgets to take her keys all the time. - 你 *老是* 这么凶干吗？Nǐ *lǎoshì* zhème xiōng gànmá?Why are you always so mean to me? - 他真讨厌，*老是* 跟朋友借钱。Tā zhēn tǎoyàn, *lǎoshì* gēn péngyou jièqián.He's such a nuisance. He borrows money from his friend very often.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - ["Always" with "conglai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Always%22_with_%22conglai%22) - ["Never" with "conglai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Never%22_with_%22conglai%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Websites - [Qingwen: Always in Chinese: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 老是](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/always-in-chinese-%E6%80%BB%E6%98%AF-z%C7%92ngshi-and-%E8%80%81%E6%98%AF-l%C7%8Eoshi) ### Dictionaries - [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (pp. 145) [→buy](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) \

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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