始终

• Pinyin: shǐ zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 始 = 女 (woman) + 台 (platform, phonetic); 终 = 纟 (silk) + 冬 (winter, phonetic)

Meaning

Always; from beginning to end. Emphasises that something remains unchanged throughout a process or period.

A formal adverb indicating constancy or persistence. It carries a stronger sense of unwavering consistency than 一直, often implying determination or an unchanging state despite circumstances. Common in both written and spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 他始终没有放弃自己的梦想。 He never gave up on his dream.
2. 这个问题始终没有得到解决。 This problem has never been resolved.
3. 她始终相信努力会有结果。 She has always believed that hard work will pay off.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, formal speech

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他始终坚持自己的想法。(He has always stuck to his own ideas.)
• 我们始终支持你的决定。(We have always supported your decision.)

Don't Say

• 我始终在吃饭。(Don't use 始终 for ongoing actions — use 一直 instead. 始终 emphasises constancy of a state or attitude, not an action in progress.)

Origin & History

始 means 'beginning' and 终 means 'end'. Together they express the idea of 'from start to finish', conveying constancy throughout an entire process.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal