yīzhí: 一直 - Always, Continuously, Straight

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese adverb “一直” (yīzhí), a fundamental word you'll hear every day. This page breaks down its two primary meanings: describing a continuous, uninterrupted action (“always,” “all along”) and giving simple directions (“straight ahead”). Discover how to use `一直` correctly, understand its nuance compared to `总是` (zǒngshì), and see practical examples that will make your Mandarin sound more natural.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yīzhí
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: Describes an action that is continuous and uninterrupted over a period of time, or a direction that is straight and direct.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “一直” (yīzhí) as a single, unbroken line. When talking about time, it means an action happened along that entire line without stopping (e.g., “I've been waiting all afternoon”). When talking about space, it means to move along a straight line without turning (e.g., “Go straight”). It emphasizes continuity and directness.

• 一 (yī): The character for “one” or “a single.” Here, it implies the idea of “a single, continuous whole.”
• 直 (zhí): This character means “straight,” “direct,” or “upright.” You can see this in words like `直接` (zhíjiē - direct).

When combined, `一直` (yīzhí) literally means “one straight,” creating a powerful and intuitive image of a single, straight, unbroken line. This visual metaphor perfectly captures both of its meanings: a continuous stretch of time and a straight path.

While “一直” (yīzhí) is primarily a functional grammar word, its common usage reveals a subtle aspect of communication. Chinese often emphasizes the duration and continuity of a state or action. A key cultural and linguistic comparison is with the English word “always.” In English, “always” can describe a habit made of repeated, separate actions (e.g., “I always drink coffee in the morning”). The Chinese equivalent for this is usually `总是` (zǒngshì). “一直” (yīzhí), on the other hand, is used for a single, *unbroken* stretch of action. Saying `我下午一直在看书` (Wǒ xiàwǔ yīzhí zài kànshū) doesn't mean you repeatedly picked up a book, but that you were engaged in the single, continuous activity of reading for the whole afternoon. This distinction highlights a preference for specifying whether an action is habitual (repeated instances) or continuous (one long instance). Understanding this prevents common mistakes and makes your Chinese more precise.

“一直” is extremely common in daily conversation, from casual chats to giving directions. Its usage is generally neutral and fits both formal and informal settings.

This is the most frequent use of `一直`. It's placed before the verb to show that an action has been happening continuously from a certain point in the past up until now, or for a specific, uninterrupted duration.

• It often appears with `都` (dōu) for emphasis: `他一直都…` (He has always been…).
• It's used to express persistence, waiting, or a constant state.

When giving directions, `一直` means “straight” or “straight ahead.” It's almost always followed by a verb of movement like `走` (zǒu - to walk), `开` (kāi - to drive), or `飞` (fēi - to fly).

• The common pattern is `一直往前走` (yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu) - “Walk straight ahead.”

• Example 1: (Focus: Continuous Action - Past to Present)
• 我一直在等你。
• Pinyin: Wǒ yīzhí zài děng nǐ.
• English: I've been waiting for you this whole time.
• Analysis: This implies a single, continuous period of waiting that started in the past and has just ended (or is still ongoing). It's the perfect phrase to say to a friend who has just arrived late.
• Example 2: (Focus: Spatial Direction)
• 从这里一直往前走，第二个路口右转。
• Pinyin: Cóng zhèlǐ yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu, dì-èr ge lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn.
• English: Go straight from here, and turn right at the second intersection.
• Analysis: This is a classic example of giving directions. `一直` here clearly means “straight ahead” and modifies the verb `走` (zǒu).
• Example 3: (Focus: Continuous State)
• 他一直很安静，不怎么说话。
• Pinyin: Tā yīzhí hěn ānjìng, bù zěnme shuōhuà.
• English: He's always been very quiet and doesn't talk much.
• Analysis: Here, `一直` describes a continuous personality trait or state that has been true for a long time. It implies this is his consistent nature.
• Example 4: (Focus: Continuous Action - Specific Duration)
• 昨天晚上下了一直的雨。
• Pinyin: Zuótiān wǎnshang xià le yīzhí de yǔ.
• English: It rained continuously all night yesterday.
• Analysis: This is a slightly different structure where `一直的` (yīzhí de) acts like an adjective modifying “rain” (`雨`). It emphasizes the ceaseless nature of the rain throughout the night.
• Example 5: (Focus: Negation)
• 我一直没告诉你，其实我就是那个帮助你的人。
• Pinyin: Wǒ yīzhí méi gàosù nǐ, qíshí wǒ jiùshì nàge bāngzhù nǐ de rén.
• English: I never told you (all this time), but actually, I'm the one who helped you.
• Analysis: In the negative, `一直没` (yīzhí méi) + Verb means that for a continuous period of time, an action did *not* happen.
• Example 6: (Focus: Future Intention)
• 不管发生什么，我会一直支持你。
• Pinyin: Bùguǎn fāshēng shénme, wǒ huì yīzhí zhīchí nǐ.
• English: No matter what happens, I will always (continuously) support you.
• Analysis: `一直` can also project into the future, promising an unbroken, continuous action or state from this point forward.
• Example 7: (Focus: In a question)
• 你为什么一直看着我？
• Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme yīzhí kànzhe wǒ?
• English: Why are you staring at me (continuously)?
• Analysis: This question implies the speaker has noticed someone looking at them for an uninterrupted period.
• Example 8: (Focus: Spatial Direction with `开`)
• 你就沿着这条路一直开，大概十分钟就到了。
• Pinyin: Nǐ jiù yánzhe zhè tiáo lù yīzhí kāi, dàgài shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.
• English: Just drive straight along this road, and you'll be there in about ten minutes.
• Analysis: Shows `一直` being used with driving `开` (kāi), another common verb for directions.
• Example 9: (Focus: Describing a long-term situation)
• 他们家一直住在北京。
• Pinyin: Tāmen jiā yīzhí zhù zài Běijīng.
• English: Their family has always lived in Beijing.
• Analysis: This indicates that they have lived in Beijing continuously for a long time, without living elsewhere in between.
• Example 10: (Focus: Paired with `从…到…`)
• 他从早上一直忙到晚上。
• Pinyin: Tā cóng zǎoshang yīzhí máng dào wǎnshang.
• English: He was busy continuously from morning until night.
• Analysis: The structure `从…一直…到…` (cóng… yīzhí… dào…) is very common for defining the specific start and end points of a continuous action.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `一直` (yīzhí) and `总是` (zǒngshì). They can both be translated as “always,” but they are not interchangeable. 一直 (yīzhí) → Unbroken Continuity Use `一直` for a single action or state that continues without interruption over a specific timeframe.

• Correct: 我昨天一直在工作。(Wǒ zuótiān yīzhí zài gōngzuò.) - I was working continuously yesterday. (One long block of work).
• Incorrect: 我昨天总是在工作。(Wǒ zuótiān zǒngshì zài gōngzuò.) - This sounds strange, as if you were habitually working all day yesterday.

总是 (zǒngshì) → Habitual Repetition Use `总是` for an action that happens repeatedly out of habit, or is a general truth. The actions are separate instances.

• Correct: 他上班总是迟到。(Tā shàngbān zǒngshì chídào.) - He is always late for work. (Being late is a recurring, habitual event).
• Incorrect: 他上班一直迟到。(Tā shàngbān yīzhí chídào.) - This is grammatically awkward. It would imply he is in a continuous state of “being late,” which doesn't make sense. You could say `他从去年开始就一直在迟到` (He's been continuously late since last year), but `总是` is more natural for a general habit.

Simple Test: Ask yourself: Is it one long, unbroken action (→ `一直`), or many separate, repeated actions (→ `总是`)?

• 总是 (zǒngshì) - The direct counterpart to `一直`. Means “always” in a habitual, repetitive sense.
• 经常 (jīngcháng) - “Often,” “frequently.” Describes something that happens a lot, but less than `总是`.
• 常常 (chángcháng) - A common and slightly more informal synonym for `经常`.
• 不断 (búduàn) - “Unceasingly,” “uninterruptedly.” Similar to `一直` but can feel more formal and emphasizes the action's relentlessness.
• 始终 (shǐzhōng) - “From beginning to end.” Stresses the entire duration of a process without change, often with a formal or literary tone. Example: `他始终没有放弃` (He never gave up from start to finish).
• 一向 (yíxiàng) - “All along,” “consistently.” Used for long-standing habits, characteristics, or states that are true up to the present. Example: `他一向很准时` (He has always been punctual).
• 往前走 (wǎng qián zǒu) - “To walk forward.” A phrase frequently paired with `一直` when giving directions.