老是

• 拼音: lǎo shì
• 汉字拆解: 老 (lǎo) — always, continually (adverbial); 是 (shì) — emphasis particle

含义

Always; constantly. Often implies slight annoyance or frustration about a repeated situation.

Unlike 总是 which is more neutral, 老是 tends to carry a tone of complaint or mild exasperation. It emphasizes that something happens too often and the speaker is not happy about it.

例句

1. 他老是迟到，老师很生气。
2. 你怎么老是忘记带钥匙？
3. 弟弟老是玩手机，不写作业。

用法指南

语境: complaint, everyday, family

语气: mildly annoyed

正确说法

• 他老是不听话。(He never listens.)
• 天气老是下雨，真烦。(It's always raining — so annoying.)

错误说法

• 不要在正式场合用'老是'来抱怨 (Don't use 老是 to complain in formal settings — use 经常 or 总是 instead for a more neutral tone)

起源与历史

Combination of 老 (always, continually — adverbial use) and 是 (emphasis marker). The adverbial use of 老 meaning 'always' dates back to classical Chinese.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal