照常

The Chinese adverb 照常 (zhàocháng) is a cornerstone of daily communication, signifying that an action or state continues 'as usual' or 'as per the normal routine,' especially in the face of potential disruption or change. At its core, the word is composed of two characters: 照 (zhào), meaning 'according to' or 'as per,' and 常 (cháng), meaning 'ordinary,' 'normal,' or 'constant.' Together, they create a powerful expression of continuity and resilience. When you use 照常, you are emphasizing that despite a holiday, bad weather, a personal crisis, or a systemic change, the expected course of action remains unchanged. It is most frequently used in contexts involving schedules, business operations, and personal habits. For example, if a city is experiencing a heavy snowstorm but the buses are still running, a news reporter would say buses are 照常运行 (operating as usual). In a personal context, if you are feeling slightly unwell but decide to go to work anyway, you might tell a friend that you will 照常上班. This word carries a sense of stability and reliability. It is distinct from words like 'usually' (通常) because it specifically addresses the fact that something continues to be normal despite a reason it might not be. In business, it is vital for setting expectations; 'Business as usual' is almost always translated as 照常营业. Understanding this word requires recognizing that it is an adverb, typically placed before the verb it modifies. It doesn't just mean 'normal'; it means 'maintaining the normal state.' In Chinese culture, where social harmony and routine are valued, 照常 serves as a linguistic anchor, reassuring listeners that the world—or at least the specific task at hand—is proceeding exactly as it should. Whether it's a shop opening on a public holiday or a student studying during a festival, 照常 highlights the persistence of the status quo.

Core Concept

The maintenance of a standard routine or schedule despite external circumstances that might suggest a change.

Syntactic Function

Functions primarily as an adverbial modifier placed before the verb or verb phrase.

Furthermore, 照常 is often used in official announcements to provide clarity to the public. For instance, during the Lunar New Year, many shops close, but a supermarket might post a sign saying '春节期间，照常营业' (Open as usual during the Spring Festival). This use case is extremely common in urban environments. It also appears in literary contexts to describe the indifferent flow of time or nature; regardless of human tragedy, the sun rises 照常升起. This poetic use underscores the word's deeper meaning of an immutable, persistent reality. In everyday speech, it's a way to signal that life goes on. If someone asks, 'Are you still going to the gym even though you're busy?' you can reply, '照常去' (Going as usual). It simplifies the explanation by implying that the routine is stronger than the obstacle. It is a B2 level word because while the concept is simple, its correct application in contrast to potential changes requires a nuanced understanding of Chinese sentence structure and social context. It bridges the gap between basic descriptions of habits and more complex discussions of operational status and resilience.

Using 照常 (zhàocháng) correctly involves placing it in the adverbial position, which in Chinese is almost always before the verb. Unlike English, where 'as usual' can appear at the beginning or the end of a sentence, 照常 is quite fixed. The basic structure is: Subject + (Context/Condition) + 照常 + Verb + Object. For example, '我照常跑步' (I run as usual). When a condition is introduced, usually with '虽然' (although) or '尽管' (despite), 照常 becomes the focus of the result clause. For instance, '虽然下雪了，火车还是照常出发' (Although it snowed, the train still departed as usual). Note the frequent use of '还是' (still) alongside 照常 to reinforce the idea of continuity. Another common pattern is its use in formal notices. In these cases, the subject is often a place or service, such as '图书馆照常开放' (The library is open as usual). It can also modify adjectives that imply a state of being, though this is less common than modifying action verbs. For instance, '他的情绪照常稳定' (His mood is stable as usual). However, the most natural use is with verbs of action or operation like 营业 (to do business), 进行 (to proceed), 运行 (to operate), and 举行 (to hold an event). It is also important to distinguish 照常 from its synonyms. While '依旧' (yījiù) also means 'as before,' 照常 specifically implies a routine or a standard that is being followed. 依旧 is more about a state remaining unchanged over time. For example, you wouldn't say '依旧营业' as often as '照常营业' because business hours are a 'normal' (常) standard, not just an 'old' (旧) state. In negative sentences, 照常 is rarely used directly. Instead of saying '不照常,' speakers usually say '不按常理' or '取消了' (cancelled). If you want to say something is NOT as usual, you would use '反常' (abnormal) or '不像往常' (not like usual).

Common Pattern 1

[Condition], [Subject] + 照常 + [Verb]. Example: 即使停电了，实验也照常进行。

Common Pattern 2

[Subject] + 照常 + [State/Adjective]. Example: 他的表现照常优秀。

When constructing complex sentences, 照常 can be paired with time phrases to specify exactly when the 'usual' behavior is occurring. For instance, '周末照常加班' (Working overtime as usual on the weekend). This highlights a deviation from the societal norm (not working on weekends) while establishing a personal or organizational 'usual.' In higher-level writing, 照常 can be used to describe historical or natural cycles. '历史照常演进' (History evolves as usual). This usage elevates the word from simple daily routine to a broader philosophical statement about the inevitability of certain processes. For learners, the key is to practice the 'Condition + 照常' structure, as this is where the word's specific nuance of 'despite everything' truly shines. By mastering this, you can express resilience and consistency in your Chinese conversation and writing.

You will encounter 照常 (zhàocháng) in a wide variety of real-world scenarios in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. One of the most common places is in public announcements. If you are in a subway station during a minor delay or maintenance period, you might hear an announcement saying, '列车照常运行，请乘客们放心' (Trains are operating as usual, please be at ease). Similarly, during public holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival or National Day, you will see signs on shop windows or posts on social media apps like WeChat stating, '节日期间，本店照常营业' (During the holiday, this shop is open as usual). This is a vital phrase for any traveler or resident to recognize. In the workplace, managers often use 照常 to maintain order during transitions. For example, if a department head is away on a business trip, they might send an email saying, '我出差期间，各项工作照常进行' (While I am on a business trip, all tasks should proceed as usual). This ensures that the routine is not broken by their absence. In news broadcasting, the word is used to report on the state of society after a major event. After an earthquake or a storm, news anchors will report on which schools or hospitals have resumed services: '当地学校已于今日照常上课' (Local schools have resumed classes as usual today). You will also hear it in casual conversations. If a friend knows you are going through a breakup or a difficult time, they might be surprised to see you at the gym and say, '你还照常来健身啊？' (You're still coming to work out as usual?). Here, it carries a tone of admiration for your consistency. In literature and film, 照常 is often used to create a sense of 'the mundane' or to emphasize that the world does not stop for individual grief. A famous movie title or book line might use '太阳照常升起' (The Sun Also Rises) to convey this eternal cycle. Finally, in weather reports, if a typhoon is approaching but hasn't hit yet, the meteorologist might say, '目前航班照常起降' (Currently, flights are taking off and landing as usual). Recognizing 照常 in these diverse contexts—from the clinical tone of a train station to the emotional weight of a novel—will greatly enhance your comprehension of how Chinese speakers view continuity and the passage of time.

Public Transport

Used to reassure passengers that schedules are being met despite potential issues.

Business Notices

Standard terminology for indicating that business hours remain unchanged during holidays.

While 照常 (zhàocháng) is a versatile word, learners often make several key mistakes when incorporating it into their speech. The most frequent error is confusing it with '通常' (tōngcháng) or '经常' (jīngcháng). While all three relate to 'usual' or 'regular' occurrences, they have distinct functions. 通常 means 'usually' or 'generally' and describes a general habit or standard (e.g., 'I usually eat breakfast'). 经常 means 'frequently' or 'often' (e.g., 'I often go to the park'). 照常, however, specifically means 'as usual' in the sense of continuing a routine despite a specific circumstance. You wouldn't say '我照常吃早餐' to mean 'I usually eat breakfast'; you would only say it if there was a reason you might not have eaten breakfast (like being very busy) but you did anyway. Another common mistake is word order. In English, we can say 'The meeting will proceed as usual' or 'As usual, the meeting will proceed.' In Chinese, placing 照常 at the end of the sentence (*'会议进行照常') is grammatically incorrect. It must come before the verb. A third mistake is using 照常 to describe a first-time event. You cannot use 照常 for something that has no established 'usual' state. For example, if you are visiting a new city, you can't say '我照常去那个博物馆' because there is no previous routine of you going there. Another nuance involves the negation. Learners often try to say '不照常' to mean 'not as usual.' While technically understandable, it sounds unnatural. To express that something is not following the usual pattern, it is better to use '异常' (yìcháng - abnormal), '反常' (fǎncháng - contrary to normal), or '不像往常' (not like usual). Furthermore, some learners use 照常 when they actually mean 'still' (还是/依然). While 照常 implies 'still,' it specifically refers to a routine. If you want to say 'He is still beautiful,' you should use '依然,' not '照常,' because beauty is a state, not a scheduled routine. Lastly, ensure you don't use it with verbs that don't fit a routine. '照常死' (die as usual) is nonsensical because death is not a repeatable routine. Stick to repeatable actions like working, studying, opening, or operating.

Mistake 1: Misplacing at the end

Incorrect: 商店营业照常。 Correct: 商店照常营业。

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'usually'

Incorrect: 我照常六点起床。 (Unless there's a reason you wouldn't). Correct: 我通常六点起床。

To truly master 照常 (zhàocháng), it's helpful to compare it with similar words that deal with continuity and normalcy. The most common synonyms are 依旧 (yījiù), 依然 (yīrán), and 仍旧 (réngjiù). While all can be translated as 'as before' or 'still,' they have different shades of meaning. 依旧 and 依然 are more literary and often describe a state or a feeling that remains unchanged over a long period. For example, '风景依旧' (the scenery is as it was before). They emphasize the sameness of a situation. 照常, on the other hand, is more practical and focuses on the execution of a routine. If a store is open, it's 照常营业; if a person's feelings haven't changed, they are 依然爱着. Another close relative is 照旧 (zhàojiù). This word is very similar to 照常 but leans slightly more towards 'following the old way' or 'according to the old pattern.' It can sometimes carry a slightly negative or stagnant connotation, whereas 照常 is neutral and focuses on the regularity. For example, '一切照旧' (everything remains as of old) might imply a lack of progress, whereas '一切照常' simply means everything is following the schedule. Another alternative is 照样 (zhàoyàng). This is more colloquial and means 'in the same way' or 'nonetheless.' It is often used to show defiance or persistence. '不管你怎么说，我照样要去' (No matter what you say, I'm going anyway). While 照常 is about the 'usual' (常), 照样 is about the 'pattern' or 'manner' (样). In formal writing, you might see 如常 (rúcháng), which is a more concise, slightly more elegant version of 照常, often used in phrases like '生活如常' (life goes on as usual). Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the word that best fits your intent, whether you are describing a persistent emotion, a resilient business, or a stubborn habit.

照常 vs. 依旧

照常 is for routines and schedules; 依旧 is for states of being and long-term conditions.

照常 vs. 照样

照常 emphasizes 'according to the normal frequency'; 照样 emphasizes 'doing it the same way regardless of obstacles'.

照常 vs. 通常

照常 is an adverb for 'still as usual'; 通常 is an adverb for 'generally' or 'mostly'.