Usage note
老是表示总是、一直。
lǎo shì biǎo shì zǒng shì 、 yì zhí。
Always means always or all the time.
Context note
老是常出现在重复行为或习惯里。
lǎo shì cháng chū xiàn zài chóng fù xíng wéi huò xí guàn lǐ。
Always often appears with repeated actions or habits.
5 examples
他老是迟到。
tā lǎo shì chí dào。
He is always late.
我老是忘记。
wǒ lǎo shì wàng jì。
I always forget.
不要老是玩。
bú yào lǎo shì wán。
Do not always play.
她老是笑。
tā lǎo shì xiào。
She always laughs.
老是这样不行。
lǎo shì zhè yàng bù xíng。
It is not okay to always be like this.
5 mini stories
弟弟老是把玩具放乱。
dì di lǎo shì bǎ wán jù fàng luàn。
My younger brother always leaves toys messy.
老师说老是这样做会有问题。
lǎo shī shuō lǎo shì zhè yàng zuò huì yǒu wèn tí。
The teacher said always doing this will cause problems.
我老是忘记带铅笔，所以现在把铅笔放在书包里。
wǒ lǎo shì wàng jì dài qiān bǐ， suǒ yǐ xiàn zài bǎ qiān bǐ fàng zài shū bāo lǐ。
I always forget to bring a pencil, so now I keep one in my school bag.
她老是笑，大家都觉得她很开心。
tā lǎo shì xiào， dà jiā dōu jué de tā hěn kāi xīn。
She always laughs, and everyone thinks she is very happy.
不要老是看电视，要去读书。
bú yào lǎo shì kàn diàn shì， yào qù dú shū。
Do not always watch TV; go read.
Mini dialogue
忘记带书
A
你老是忘记带书。
Nǐ lǎo shì wàngjì dài shū.
You always forget to bring your book.
B
对不起，我明天一定记得。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ míngtiān yīdìng jìde.
Sorry, I will definitely remember tomorrow.
下雨天
A
最近老是下雨。
Zuìjìn lǎo shì xià yǔ.
It has been always raining lately.
B
是啊，我们不能出去玩。
Shì a, wǒmen bù néng chūqù wán.
Yeah, we can't go out to play.
Related words and contrasts
similar
总是
zǒng shì
always
A common synonym for always
related
经常
jīng cháng
often
Similar meaning but less frequent
opposite
从不
cóng bù
never
Opposite of always