Chinese word

一直

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī zhí

Meaning

  • adverbalways

Example

我一直在等你wǒ yì zhí zài děng nǐ

I have always been waiting for you.

Illustration for 一直 (always)

More examples

他一直在工作。tā yì zhí zài gōng zuò

He is always working.

Core concept

A person, action, or state keeps moving along the same uninterrupted path.

Common phrases

  • 一直在工作yì zhí zài gōng zuò

    always be working

  • 一直很忙yì zhí hěn máng

    always be busy

  • 一直都在努力yì zhí dōu zài nǔ lì

    always be working hard

Similar words

总是zǒng shì: Shows that something happens again and again as a usual pattern.
经常jīng cháng: Shows that something happens frequently but not all the time.
不断bú duàn: Shows an action or change continuing without interruption.

Definition in Chinese

从过去某一点或某段时间开始持续到现在，表示动作或状态不间断地延续。cóng guò qù mǒu yì diǎn huò mǒu duàn shí jiān kāi shǐ chí xù dào xiàn zài biǎo shì dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài bú jiàn duàn dì yán xù

Word origin

一 (yī, "one") + 直 (zhí, "straight") presents one course that does not bend or break, which develops into the adverb's meaning of ongoing continuity.

Usage tips

  • The word can describe either an action that carries on or a condition that remains in place, so its scope often covers the entire verb phrase.

Other meanings

  • consistentlyadverb
  • straightadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word