If you are trying to describe a daily routine, a habit, or just
something that consistently happens, you can use the word 总是
(zǒngshì). 总是 (zǒngshì) means "always," and like other
[adverbs](adverb "wikilink"), comes before the verb in a sentence.

总是 (zǒngshì) with Verbs
-------------------------

总是 (zǒngshì) is an adverb that is often translated to English as
"always." It is placed before the verb that it modifies.

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 总是 + Verb

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他 <em>总是</em> 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em>
    chídào.</span><span class="trans">He is always late.</span>
-   我 <em>总是</em> 忘记 这 个 词。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>zǒngshì</em> wàngjì zhège cí.</span><span class="trans">I always
    forget this word.</span>
-   他 <em>总是</em> 一个人 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Tā
    <em>zǒngshì</em> yīgèrén chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">He always
    eats alone.</span>
-   你 男朋友 <em>总是</em> 说 脏话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nánpéngyou
    <em>zǒngshì</em> shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">Your
    boyfriend always uses foul language.</span>
-   我 的 学生 <em>总是</em> 问 我 很多 有意思 的
    问题。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>zǒngshì</em> wèn wǒ
    hěn duō yǒu yìsi de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">My students
    always ask me lots of interesting questions.</span>

</div>
总是 (zǒngshì) with Adjectives
------------------------------

### Structure

When 总是 (zǒngshì) is used together with an adjective, you will need to
add a modifier in the middle, such as 很 (hěn), 特别 (tèbié), [这么
(zhème), 那么 (nàme),](Adjectives_with_"name"_and_"zheme" "wikilink")
etc.

<div class="jiegou">
总是 + Adv. + Adj.

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他 <em>总是</em> 很 累。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn
    lèi.</span><span class="trans">He is always tired.</span>
-   你 为什么 <em>总是</em> 很 忙？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme
    <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn máng?</span><span class="trans">Why are you
    always very busy?</span>
-   你 家 <em>总是</em> 很 干净。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā
    <em>zǒngshì</em> hěn gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">Your house
    is always very clean.</span>
-   孩子们 <em>总是</em> 非常 开心。<span class="pinyin">Háizi men
    <em>zǒngshì</em> fēicháng kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">The
    children are always very happy.</span>
-   我 的 学生 <em>总是</em> 特别 努力。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de
    xuéshēng <em>zǒngshì</em> tèbié nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">My
    students are always very hard-working.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   ["Always" as a complaint with
    "laoshi"]("Always"_as_a_complaint_with_"laoshi" "wikilink")
-   ["Always" with "conglai"]("Always"_with_"conglai" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

-   [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and
    Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 -
    初中级)](Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(汉语语法百项讲练_-_初中级) "wikilink") (p.
    271)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    4 (新实用汉语课本4)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(新实用汉语课本4) "wikilink") (p.
    18)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    79)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")