<p>We have a few ways to say "always" in Chinese, and one of them is to use the word 老是 (lǎoshì).</p> <h2 id="used-with-verbs">Used with Verbs</h2> <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3> <p>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 <a href=""Always"_with_"zongshi"" title="wikilink">the word 总是</a>.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>老是 + Verb</p> </div> <p>You can also use "老" instead of "老是."</p> <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 加班 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Why do you always work overtime?</span></li> <li>他 <em>老</em> 说 脏 话 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎo</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">He always says bad words.</span></li> <li>这个 机器 <em>老</em> 出 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège jīqì <em>lǎo</em> chū wèntí.</span><span class="trans">There is always something wrong with this machine.</span></li> <li>他 <em>老是</em> 抱怨 自己 的 生活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lǎoshì</em> bàoyuàn zǐjǐ de shēnghuó.</span><span class="trans">He complains about his life all the time.</span></li> <li>你 <em>老是</em> 找 借口 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lǎoshì</em> zhǎo jièkǒu.</span><span class="trans">You always make excuses.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="used-with-adjectives">Used with Adjectives</h2> <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3> <p>When it is used together with an adjective, 老是 usually has an adverb such as "不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那么" etc., after it.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Subj. + 老是 + Adv. + Adj.</p> </div> <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>这个 老师 <em>老是</em> 很 严肃 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī <em>lǎoshì</em> hěn yánsù.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is always very serious.</span></li> <li>你 <em>老是</em> 这么 凶 干吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lǎoshì</em> zhème xiōng gànmá?</span><span class="trans">Why are you always so mean to me?</span></li> <li>你 怎么 <em>老是</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">How are you always unhappy?</span></li> <li>别 <em>老是</em> 那么 自恋 。<span class="pinyin">Bié <em>lǎoshì</em> nàme zìliàn.</span><span class="trans">Don't be so self-absorbed all the time.</span></li> <li>你 家 的 东西 怎么 <em>老是</em> 坏 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā de dōngxi zěnme <em>lǎoshì</em> huài?</span><span class="trans">How come there's always something broken in your house?</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li><a href=""Always"_with_"conglai"" title="wikilink">"Always" with "conglai"</a></li> <li><a href=""Never"_with_"conglai"" title="wikilink">"Never" with "conglai"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3> <ul> <li><a href="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">Qingwen: Always in Chinese: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 老是</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="现代汉语词典（第5版）" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语词典（第5版）</a> (pp. 145) <a href="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">→buy</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:B1_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category:B1 grammar points</a></p>