Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 163 – “一直and 总是” in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 163 – “一直and 总是” in Chinese

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we talked about about “或者 and 还是” in Chinese. Today, we will talk about “一直 and 总是” in Chinese.

yī zhí

一 直 (always; all the way; all the time; all through)

wǒ yī zhí dōu zài zhǎo jī huì néng dào mò kè zhì yào gōng

我  一  直   都   在    找  机 会     能    到    默  克  制   药     公

sī gōng zuò.

司   工     作。

(I have been looking for the opportunity to work in the Merck pharmaceutical company all the time.)

wǒ yī zhí dōu yòng yòu shǒu xiě zì.

我  一 直    都     用    右      手    写 字。

(I always write with my right hand.)

tā tiào wǔ yī zhí dōu hěn hǎo.

她  跳   舞 一  直   都    很   好。

(Her dance is always good.)

Technically, 一直describes the action is happening without any exception. 一直 expresses that the action is more frequently than 总是. 

zǒng shi

   总    是 (always; all the time; at all times; invariably)

总是 expresses the action with some personal feelings.  Some one is willing to do or hates to do something.

tā zǒng shì gōng zuò dào hěn wǎn cái huí jiā.

他   总    是     工     作    到    很    晚    才  回  家。

(He always comes home late from work.)

bái xuě zǒng shì miàn dài xiào róng.

 白   雪     总    是    面     带   笑     容。

(Baixue is always smiling.)

mā mā zǒng shì zhǔ fù wǒ yào zuò gè hǎo yī shēng.

 妈  妈     总    是   嘱  咐  我   要    做  个   好   医    生。

(Mom always told me to be a good doctor.)

So, from the example sentences, we can see that一直 expresses that the action is more frequently than 总是. 总是 expresses the action with some personal feelings.  Some one is willing to do or hates to do something.  Sometimes we switch these two conjuctions to make sentences when the meaning of the conjunctions are all or.

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè  xiè!

 谢   谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià  cì  jiàn

 下  次  见!  (See you next time!)