Use ‘lao shi’ to express ‘always’ in Chinese

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

中文里，我们可以用几种方式表达"always"，而其中的一种就是使用"老是"一词。

Structure with a verb

老是 is an adverb, usually translated into English as "always". It expresses that an action or a condition constantly repeats or continues. It also has an unsatisfied or frustrated tone. It can be interchanged with the word 总是.

"老是"是一个副词，一般翻译成英语是"always"。它表达的是一个动作或一种状态不断重复或持续，它还带有不满或失落的语气。它可以跟"总是"互换。

老是 + Verb

You can also use "老" instead of "老是".

你也可以用"老"代替"老是"。

Examples

不要老是笑话别人。

bùyào lǎo shì xiàohuà biérén.

Don't laugh at other people all the time.

他老是喜欢说脏话。

tā lǎo shì xǐhuan shuō zānghuà.

He always likes saying bad words.

老板老是让我们加班。

lǎo bǎn lǎo shì ràng wǒmen jiābān.

The boss always asks us to work overtime.

你老在别人面前说我的坏话。

nǐ lǎo zài biérén miànqián shuō wǒ de huàihuà.

You always like speaking evil of me in front of other people.

Structure with Adjective

When it is used together with an adjective, it usually has an adverb before it, such as "不, 很, 非常, 这么, 那么" etc.

当它和形容词一起用的时候，一般会在前面带上一个副词，比如"不"、"很"、"非常"、"这么"、"那么"等等。

老是 ( + Adv.) + Adj.

Examples

你怎么老是不高兴？

nǐ zěnme lǎo shì bù gāoxìng?

How are you always unhappy?

他对员工老是很严肃。

tā duì yuángōng lǎo shì hěn yánsù.

His face is always red and cute.

我楼上的邻居晚上老是很吵。

wǒ lóushàng de línjū wánshang lǎo shì hěn chǎo.

My neighbor upstairs is always noisy in the night.

他老是对人不礼貌。

tā lǎo shì duì rén bù lǐmào.

He's always impolite to people.

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