Japanese word

始終

Pronunciation

Romajishijū

Meaning

  • adverbconstantly

Example

彼は始終笑っています。kare wa shi jū wara tte i ma su

He is constantly laughing.

Illustration for 始終 (constantly)

More examples

その店では始終新しい音楽が流れています。so no mise de wa shi jū atara shi i on gaku ga naga re te i ma su

New music is constantly playing in that shop.

Core concept

It marks an action or condition as present throughout the relevant period, with the sense of constant continuation.

Common phrases

  • 始終笑っているshi jū wara tte i ru

    be constantly laughing

  • 始終話しているshi jū hana shi te i ru

    be constantly talking

  • 始終変わらないshi jū ka wa ra na i

    remain unchanged throughout

Similar words

いつもitsumo: It indicates that something happens regularly or on every relevant occasion.
ずっとzutto: It indicates that an action or condition continues without interruption for a period of time.
常にtsuneni: It indicates that something remains true or occurs continuously in all relevant situations.
絶えずtaezu: It indicates that an action or condition continues without stopping.

Definition in Japanese

同じ行為や状態が、いつも途切れずに続いているさま。ona ji kō i ya jō tai ga i tsu mo to gi re zu ni tsuzu i te i ru sa ma

Word origin

始終 (shijū) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 始 (shi, "beginning") and 終 (jū, "end"), whose combined meaning "from beginning to end" developed into the adverbial sense "constantly".

Usage tips

  • Although 始終 (shijū) can translate as "constantly," its formal tone makes いつも (itsumo) the usual choice in casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • from beginning to endadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word