总是 zǒngshì always
always; invariably
How to remember 总是: 总 always + 是 is = always.
Characters
How it is used
- Always, invariably - 他总是迟到 (tā zǒngshì chídào) he's always late. Adverb, sits before the verb.
- Often carries a note of complaint or a persistent pattern, more so than the neutral 老是 (lǎoshì, keep on -ing) or the frequency word 经常 (jīngcháng, often).
- Contrast 一直 (yìzhí), which is continuous 'the whole time'; 总是 is habitual 'every time'.
Example sentences
- 我总是有事。 Wǒ zǒngshì yǒushì.I'm always busy.
- 他总是先想别人，其次才想到自己。 Tā zǒng shì xiān xiǎng biéren, qícì cái xiǎng dào zìjǐ.He always thinks of others first, then himself.
- 她总是对人和颜悦色。 Tā zǒngshì duì rén héyán-yuèsè.She is always cheerful and pleasant to people.