一贯 yíguàn consistent
consistent; constant; from start to finish; all along; persistent
How to remember 一贯: 一 one + 贯 to pierce = consistent.
Characters
How it is used
- Describes an attitude or policy held unchanged over a long time - 他一贯认真 (tā yíguàn rènzhēn) he has always been conscientious.
- Adverbial before a verb or as an attribute: 一贯的作风 (yíguàn de zuòfēng) one's consistent style/way of doing things.
- Formal, often positive or official (政策), unlike 一直 (yìzhí) which is neutral and purely temporal 'all along'. 一贯 implies a settled, principled consistency.