In 15 Seconds
- Used to complain about repetitive, annoying actions or habits.
- Place it directly before the verb or adjective in a sentence.
- Avoid using it for positive habits or in formal situations.
Meaning
Think of this as 'always' with an attitude. It’s the word you use when you want to complain that someone keeps doing the same annoying thing over and over again.
Key Examples
3 of 6Complaining to a roommate
你老是不洗碗。
You always leave the dishes unwashed.
Talking about a forgetful friend
他老是忘带手机。
He is always forgetting his phone.
In a work meeting with a close teammate
这个电脑老是死机。
This computer is always crashing.
Cultural Background
The use of 'old' (老) to mean 'frequently' or 'always' is a classic feature of Mandarin colloquialism. It reflects a linguistic habit where time-tested patterns (even annoying ones) are described as 'aged' or 'constant'. It is widely used in TV dramas and daily life to show intimacy through light-hearted nagging.
The 'Old' Secret
In Chinese, '老' (old) often implies 'fixed' or 'habitual'. When you use '老是', you're saying the behavior is an 'old' annoying habit that hasn't changed.
Don't over-nag
Using '老是' too much can make you sound like a 'naggy' person (碎碎念). Save it for things that actually bother you!
In 15 Seconds
- Used to complain about repetitive, annoying actions or habits.
- Place it directly before the verb or adjective in a sentence.
- Avoid using it for positive habits or in formal situations.
What It Means
老是 (lǎo shì) is your go-to word for venting frustration. While English uses "always" for both good and bad things, 老是 is almost exclusively for the bad stuff. It implies that a certain action is repetitive, predictable, and frankly, a bit irritating. If your friend is always late, they aren't just 总是 (always) late; they are 老是 late. It adds a layer of "here we go again" to your sentence.
How To Use It
Using it is simple. Just place 老是 right before the verb or the adjective you are complaining about.
你老是迟到(You are always late).他老是忘带钥匙(He always forgets his keys).
It acts like an adverb. You don't need extra particles to make it work. Just drop it in when you feel that prickle of annoyance. It’s like a verbal eye-roll.
When To Use It
Use it when you are among friends, family, or colleagues you know well. It’s perfect for texting a roommate who left the dishes out again. Use it at a restaurant if the waiter keeps bringing the wrong order. It’s great for self-deprecation too. If you keep losing your phone, you can sigh and say you 老是 lose things. It makes you sound more like a native speaker who is comfortable expressing feelings.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid 老是 in very formal settings or with people you don't know. If you tell your CEO they 老是 give too much work, you might be looking for a new job. In formal writing or speeches, stick to the neutral 总是. Also, don't use it for positive habits. You wouldn't say someone 老是 helps people unless you're being sarcastic. It sounds weird to complain about someone being too nice!
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, harmony is usually key, but people still need to vent. 老是 is a soft way to complain without being overly aggressive. The character 老 (old) here doesn't mean age. It refers to something that has happened for a long time or frequently. It’s a very colloquial, northern-influenced way of speaking that has spread everywhere. It captures that universal human feeling of being fed up with a recurring habit.
Common Variations
If you want to sound even more casual, you can just use 老 (lǎo) by itself. For example, 他老找我借钱 (He's always asking me for money). Another cousin is 总是 (zǒng shì), which is the polite, neutral version. If you want to be more dramatic, you can use 老掉牙 (old toothless/cliché) for stories, but for daily annoying habits, 老是 is the undisputed king of the hill.
Usage Notes
Mainly used in spoken Chinese. It carries a subjective tone of dissatisfaction. In writing, prefer '总是' unless you are writing dialogue.
The 'Old' Secret
In Chinese, '老' (old) often implies 'fixed' or 'habitual'. When you use '老是', you're saying the behavior is an 'old' annoying habit that hasn't changed.
Don't over-nag
Using '老是' too much can make you sound like a 'naggy' person (碎碎念). Save it for things that actually bother you!
The Sarcastic Compliment
Sometimes close friends use '老是' for good things to be sarcastic, like 'You're always so handsome, it's annoying!'
Examples
6你老是不洗碗。
You always leave the dishes unwashed.
Expresses direct annoyance at a recurring chore issue.
他老是忘带手机。
He is always forgetting his phone.
Describes a persistent personal habit of someone else.
这个电脑老是死机。
This computer is always crashing.
Complaining about faulty equipment rather than a person.
你怎么老是迟到呀？
Why are you always late?
The 'ya' at the end softens the complaint slightly.
我老是说错话，真尴尬。
I'm always saying the wrong thing, how embarrassing.
Used to poke fun at one's own recurring mistakes.
不要老是看电视。
Don't be watching TV all the time.
Used by parents to nag or set boundaries.
Test Yourself
Choose the best word to express that you are annoyed by the rain.
这里___下雨，真讨厌！
Because the speaker says '真讨厌' (really annoying), '老是' is the perfect fit for a complaint.
Complete the sentence to complain about someone not replying to texts.
你为什么___不回我的消息？
While '总是' works, '老是' better conveys the feeling of frustration in a personal relationship.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Always'
Just using '老'
他老迟到。
The phrase '老是'
你老是忘东西。
The standard '总是'
他总是很准时。
When to use 老是
Broken Tech
手机老是没电
Bad Weather
老是下雨
Late Friends
他老是迟到
Self Mistakes
我老是丢钥匙
Practice Bank
2 exercises这里___下雨，真讨厌！
Because the speaker says '真讨厌' (really annoying), '老是' is the perfect fit for a complaint.
你为什么___不回我的消息？
While '总是' works, '老是' better conveys the feeling of frustration in a personal relationship.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions总是 is neutral and can be used for good or bad things. 老是 is informal and almost always used for complaints.
Generally, no. Saying 他老是帮我 (He always helps me) sounds like his help is actually a nuisance.
It's not a swear word, but it is a complaint. Use it with friends, but avoid it with your boss or elders.
It goes after the subject and before the verb. For example: 我 (subject) 老是 (adverb) 忘 (verb).
Yes! In very casual speech, people often drop the 是. 他老迟到 is a very common way to say it.
Literally, yes, but together they just mean 'always' in the context of a repetitive habit.
Add a particle like 呀 or 呢 at the end of the sentence, like 你怎么老是这样啊！
Yes, it is standard Mandarin and understood everywhere, though it has a slightly stronger 'flavor' in Northern China.
Absolutely. 最近老是下雨 (It's always raining lately) is a very common complaint.
Learners often use it for positive things, like 我老是赢 (I always win), which sounds confusing to natives.
Related Phrases
总是 (Always - neutral)
经常 (Frequently)
一直 (Continuously/All along)
老一套 (The same old stuff)
动不动就 (Easily/At the drop of a hat)
