Chinese–EnglishWith examples

总是

zǒng shì · zong shi

Traditional 總是

HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. always
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

The slow elevator

  1. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)电梯(diàntī)总是(zǒngshì)很(hěn)慢(màn)。

    This elevator is always slow.

  2. Liangliang

    对(duì)，我们(wǒmen)住(zhù)十楼(shílóu)，总是(zǒngshì)要(yào)等(děng)五分钟(wǔfēnzhōng)。

    Yes. We live on the tenth floor and always wait five minutes.

  3. Dengdeng

    不如(bùrú)走(zǒu)楼梯(lóutī)吧(ba)，边(biān)走(zǒu)边(biān)聊(liáo)就(jiù)到(dào)了(le)。

    Let's take the stairs. We'll be there while we chat.

  4. Liangliang

    好吧(hǎoba)。……我们(wǒmen)到(dào)了(le)！电梯(diàntī)呢(ne)？

    OK. ... We're here! Where's the elevator?

  5. Dengdeng

    看(kàn)，电梯(diàntī)才(cái)到(dào)九楼(jiǔlóu)。

    Look, the elevator has only just reached the ninth floor.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)们(men)的(de)老(lǎo)师(shī)总(zǒng)是(shì)准(zhǔn)时(shí)来(lái)上(shàng)课(kè)。

Our teacher is always on time for class.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)工(gōng)作(zuò)太(tài)忙(máng)，总(zǒng)是(shì)忘(wàng)记(jì)吃(chī)午(wǔ)饭(fàn)。

He is too busy with work and always forgets to eat lunch.

Sources & licenses

How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
总
zǒng

general; overall; to sum up

是
shì

to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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