Meaning of 老是
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- always
How to use 老是
老是 is an adverb placed before the verb, and it often carries a tone of complaint or annoyance about something that keeps happening. Example: 他老是迟到。(Tā lǎoshì chídào.) He is always late.
老 (lǎo) means old, and 是 (shì) means to be. Something that has been that way for so long it is old news is something that is always happening.
Common mistake: Learners mix up 老是 (lǎoshì) with 老师 (lǎoshī, teacher), which sound almost the same but differ in the second tone and character. Also, 老是 goes before the verb, so say 我老是忘 (wǒ lǎoshì wàng), not 我忘老是.
老是 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
老 lǎo · prefix used before the surname of a per… · 6 strokes
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是 shì · to be · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 老是.
| 还是 | háishi | still (as before); had better |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
| 老人 | lǎorén | old man or woman; the elderly |
| 但是 | dànshì | but; however |
| 可是 | kěshì | but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed |
| 正是 | zhèngshì | is precisely |
| 老朋友 | lǎo péngyou | old friend; (slang) period |
| 老年 | lǎonián | elderly; old age |
| 老王 | Lǎo Wáng | |
| 就是 | jiùshì | exactly; precisely; only; simply; just |
| 只是 | zhǐshì | merely; only; just; nothing but; simply |
Questions about 老是
What does 老是 mean?
老是 (lǎoshì) means "always" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 老是?
老是 is made of 2 characters: 老 (6 strokes), 是 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 老是 an HSK word?
Yes. 老是 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 老是 and 总是?
Both mean always, but 总是 (zǒngshì) is more neutral and works in formal or positive contexts. 老是 is more colloquial and usually sounds like a complaint, as in 你老是这样 (nǐ lǎoshì zhèyàng), you are always like this.
Can I just say 老 instead of 老是?
Yes, in casual speech 老 alone before a verb can mean always, as in 他老哭 (tā lǎo kū), he keeps crying. 老是 is a little clearer and more common for learners to use.