整天

• Pinyin: zhěng tiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 整 = 束 + 攵 + 正, meaning 'whole'; 天 = 一 (one) + 大 (big), meaning 'sky' or 'day'

Meaning

All day; the whole day. Describes doing something for an entire day, often with a tone of emphasis or mild complaint.

Functions as a time adverb meaning 'all day long.' Often carries a slightly negative or exasperated tone when describing someone doing something continuously (他整天玩游戏 = he plays games all day). Can also be neutral when simply stating duration. Similar to 一整天 but slightly more colloquial.

Examples

1. 他整天都在家看电视。 He stays at home watching TV all day.
2. 她整天忙着工作，没有时间休息。 She is busy with work all day and has no time to rest.
3. 别整天玩手机，出去走走吧。 Don't play with your phone all day — go out for a walk.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, complaint, description

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 我整天都在图书馆学习。(I was studying in the library all day.)
• 你不能整天待在家里。(You can't stay at home all day.)

Don't Say

• 整天是星期一。(Don't use 整天 to name a day — it means 'all day long,' not a specific day; say 今天是星期一)

Origin & History

整 (whole, entire) + 天 (day). Together: the whole day.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal