总是 (always — a habit)
Every single time
- Some things just keep happening — every time, like clockwork.
- For an "always" that's a habit, Chinese uses always总是.
- general总 means "in every case," so always总是 = "it's always like this."
Practice
Complete: 他 ____ 迟到。(He's always late.)
总是 = always, a recurring habit: 他总是迟到.
Practice
Before an adjective you must add a degree word: 总是 很 累, not 总是累.
总是 + 很 / 特别 + Adjective — 总是很累 ✓.
Practice
Build: “Your home is always so clean.”
总是 + 很 + Adjective for the clean tone: 你家 + 总是 + 很干净.
Subject + always总是 + …
- Drop always总是 before the verb.
he他always总是late迟到。
- Before an adjective, add a degree word: always总是very很rope累 ✓ (not always总是rope累).
Practice
Which fits a repeating habit (“he's always late”)?
A habit that recurs = 总是; one unbroken stretch = 一直.
Neutral always总是 vs grumbling always老是
- always总是 is neutral — just "always, as a rule."
- always老是 (coming up) means the same, but with an eye-roll.
- "Your home is always so clean" → always总是 (a compliment, not a complaint).
Explore
Correct or broken?
总是 marks a reliable habit — it sits after the subject, before the verb.
Recap
Key idea
- Subject + always总是 + Verb — always (a recurring habit)
- Before an adjective: always总是 + very很 / unusual特别 + Adj
- Neutral in tone; for a complaint use always老是
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.