总是 (zǒng shì) — always | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

总是 means 'always' — 100% of the time, no exceptions. Stronger than 常/常常 ('often, frequently') and more neutral than 老是 (which implies annoyance).

adverb

always

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

总 ('always') and 是 ('be') combine to mean 'always'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 總; 总 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìrope

Sound part声符shēngfú

悤

悤cōng總zǒng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 總 has 糸, a rope, and 悤 as a sound part; the rope part is for binding together. This account is for 總, not for 总.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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