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

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. You can also use 老 instead of 老是.

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.

Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi"

Contents

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Dictionaries