lǎoshì: 老是 - Always (with annoyance), Constantly

• Keywords: 老是, laoshi, Chinese for always, Chinese word for constantly, how to complain in Chinese, zongshi vs laoshi, Chinese adverbs, HSK 4 grammar, Chinese emotional words.
• Summary: Learn how to use the Chinese word 老是 (lǎoshì), which means “always” or “constantly.” Unlike the neutral word `总是 (zǒngshì)`, 老是 (lǎoshì) is used specifically to complain or express annoyance about a recurring, undesirable situation. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural context, and provide many practical examples to help you master this essential emotional adverb and sound more like a native speaker when expressing frustration.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǎo shì
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Always; constantly (used to indicate a recurring action or situation that the speaker finds annoying or problematic).
• In a Nutshell: 老是 (lǎoshì) is the word you use when you want to say “always” but with a sigh or an eye-roll. It's not just about frequency; it's about feeling fed up. Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of saying, “Why do you always do that?” or “This thing is constantly broken!” It's your go-to adverb for complaining about things that never seem to change for the better.

• 老 (lǎo): The most common meaning is “old” or “senior.” In this context, it acts as an adverbial prefix that implies something has been happening for a long time, that it's an “old” habit or an “old” problem.
• 是 (shì): This character usually means “to be” (is, am, are). Here, its function is more to affirm or emphasize the state of being.
• Together, 老是 (lǎoshì) literally feels like saying “it's an old 'is'” or “it's always this way,” which perfectly captures the feeling of a long-standing, unchanging, and frustrating situation.

While every culture has ways to complain, 老是 (lǎoshì) is a very common and colloquial tool in the Chinese linguistic toolkit for expressing everyday frustrations. Its use reveals a focus on the impact of a recurring action rather than just the action itself. In Western cultures, one might say, “He is frequently late.” This is a neutral observation. Using 老是 (lǎoshì), as in “他老是迟到 (Tā lǎoshì chídào),” is not just an observation; it's a personal complaint. It immediately signals that the speaker is negatively affected by the tardiness. It transforms a simple fact into an emotional statement. This reflects a conversational style that can be very direct about personal feelings of annoyance, especially among friends, family, and close colleagues. It's less about philosophical values and more about the texture of daily, informal communication.

老是 (lǎoshì) is extremely common in spoken, informal Chinese. You'll hear it constantly in daily conversations, on TV shows, and among friends.

• Formality: Highly informal. You would use it when complaining to a friend about your boss, but you would likely not use it to your boss in a formal meeting.
• Connotation: Almost exclusively negative or complaining. It injects a feeling of impatience, frustration, or helplessness into a sentence. If you want to say “always” in a neutral or positive way (e.g., “The sun always rises in the east,” or “She always helps people”), you must use a different word like 总是 (zǒngshì).

• Example 1:
  • 你怎么老是迟到？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme lǎoshì chídào?
  • English: Why are you always late?
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of 老是. The speaker isn't just asking for a reason; they are expressing their frustration with the person's chronic lateness. Using `总是 (zǒngshì)` here would sound much more neutral and less like a complaint.
• Example 2:
  • 我的电脑老是死机，真烦人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de diànnǎo lǎoshì sǐjī, zhēn fánrén.
  • English: My computer is always crashing, it's so annoying.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly pairs 老是 with a concluding statement of annoyance (`真烦人 - zhēn fánrén`). This is a very natural combination.
• Example 3:
  • 他老是忘了带钥匙，我得一直帮他开门。
  • Pinyin: Tā lǎoshì wàngle dài yàoshi, wǒ děi yīzhí bāng tā kāimén.
  • English: He's always forgetting his keys, I have to constantly help him open the door.
  • Analysis: This example shows the consequence of the annoying habit, highlighting why the speaker is frustrated.
• Example 4:
  • 小孩子老是问“为什么”，有时候真不知道怎么回答。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi lǎoshì wèn “wèishéme”, yǒushíhou zhēn bù zhīdào zěnme huídá.
  • English: Little kids are constantly asking “why,” sometimes I really don't know how to answer.
  • Analysis: The annoyance here is milder, more of a humorous exasperation. It shows 老是 can be used for situations that are tiring, not just infuriating.
• Example 5:
  • 你别老是打断我说话，让我先把话说完。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié lǎoshì dǎduàn wǒ shuōhuà, ràng wǒ xiān bǎ huà shuō wán.
  • English: Don't always interrupt me, let me finish what I'm saying first.
  • Analysis: Here, 老是 is used in a command with `别 (bié)` to tell someone to stop their annoying, recurring behavior.
• Example 6:
  • 这几天天气老是下雨，衣服都干不了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jǐ tiān tiānqì lǎoshì xià yǔ, yīfu dōu gān bùliǎo.
  • English: The weather's been constantly rainy these past few days, the clothes can't even dry.
  • Analysis: This shows you can use 老是 to complain about impersonal things like the weather.
• Example 7:
  • 他开会的时候老是看手机。
  • Pinyin: Tā kāihuì de shíhou lǎoshì kàn shǒujī.
  • English: He's always looking at his phone during meetings.
  • Analysis: A typical complaint about a coworker's unprofessional habit. The speaker is clearly judging this behavior.
• Example 8:
  • 我妈妈老是说我房间太乱了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māmā lǎoshì shuō wǒ fángjiān tài luàn le.
  • English: My mom is always telling me my room is too messy.
  • Analysis: This is a complaint about someone else's complaining! It shows the perspective of the person on the receiving end of the annoying, recurring action (in this case, being nagged).
• Example 9:
  • 你为什么老是怀疑我？我们之间没有信任吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme lǎoshì huáiyí wǒ? Wǒmen zhī jiān méiyǒu xìnrèn ma?
  • English: Why do you always doubt me? Is there no trust between us?
  • Analysis: Here, 老是 is used in a more serious, relational conflict. It conveys a sense of hurt and frustration.
• Example 10:
  • 这个App老是出bug，体验太差了。
  • Pinyin: Zhège App lǎoshì chū bug, tǐyàn tài chà le.
  • English: This app is always having bugs, the user experience is terrible.
  • Analysis: A very modern usage, perfect for complaining about technology.

The biggest mistake learners make is treating 老是 (lǎoshì) as a direct equivalent of the English “always.” It is not. The key is the emotional color. Core Distinction: 老是 (lǎoshì) vs. 总是 (zǒngshì)

• 老是 (lǎoshì): “Always” + Annoyance. Used for negative, problematic, recurring situations. It's a complaint.
• 总是 (zǒngshì): “Always.” A neutral statement of fact about frequency. It can be used for positive, negative, or neutral things.

Incorrect Usage Example:

• Incorrect: 她老是很努力地工作。(Tā lǎoshì hěn nǔlì de gōngzuò.)
• Why it's wrong: This sentence sounds very strange in Chinese. It's like saying, “Annoyingly, she always works hard.” It implies her hard work is a problem for the speaker.
• Correct: 她总是很努力地工作。(Tā zǒngshì hěn nǔlì de gōngzuò.) - She always works hard. (This is a neutral observation or a compliment).

Incorrect Usage Example 2:

• Incorrect: 我老是爱你。(Wǒ lǎoshì ài nǐ.)
• Why it's wrong: This is a terrible way to confess your love. It sounds like “Ugh, I'm stuck with this feeling of always loving you.” It's comical and wrong.
• Correct: 我永远爱你。(Wǒ yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ.) - I will love you forever. or 我一直爱你 (Wǒ yīzhí ài nǐ) - I have always loved you (and still do).

• 总是 (zǒngshì) - The neutral version of “always.” The most important term to contrast with 老是.
• 经常 (jīngcháng) - “Frequently,” “often.” Describes high frequency but is less absolute than “always.” Interchangeable with `常常`.
• 常常 (chángcháng) - “Often.” A very common, slightly more spoken-language version of `经常`.
• 一直 (yīzhí) - “Continuously,” “all along.” Emphasizes an uninterrupted state from a point in the past until now (e.g., 我一直在等你 - I have been waiting for you this whole time).
• 抱怨 (bàoyuàn) - A verb meaning “to complain.” This is the action you are performing when you use 老是.
• 烦人 (fánrén) - An adjective meaning “annoying” or “bothersome.” This is the feeling that a 老是 situation often causes.
• 毛病 (máobìng) - “Flaw,” “bad habit,” “glitch.” You often complain that someone or something has a 毛病 that causes it to 老是 act up. (e.g., 他有个毛病，就是老是迟到 - He has a bad habit, which is that he's always late.)