HSK 3
Correct

一直 vs 总 vs 总是

/ yìzhí vs zǒng vs zǒngshì /
Strokes
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Definition

一直, 总 and 总是 all are Adverbs of Time (时间副词).

 

一直 means always, it refers to an action going on without a stop or change. 

总 or 总是 means doing something repeatedly.

Example

The differences
一直 means always. It refers to an action going on without a stop or change.
总 or 总是 means doing something repeatedly.
1
zhí
一直
shuō
le
liǎng
duō
xiǎoshí
小时
  
  
(
méiyǒu
没有
tíngzhǐ
停止
shuōhuà
说话
  
)

He kept talking for two hours. (He did not stop talking.)

2
Měi
每次
xià
下雨
de
shíhou
时候
  
,
de
tuǐ
zǒngshì
总是
hěn
téng
  
  
(
tuǐ
jīngcháng
经常
téng
  
)

Each time it rains, his leg is always painful. (He often feels the pain in his legs.)

一直/总/总是 can be interchangeable
If used to indicate an action often takes place and continues without a stop.
3
Zhèxiē
这些
tiān
zhí
一直
  
/
zǒng
  
/
zǒngshì
总是
zài
chàng
zhè
shǒu
  
  
(
dòngzuò
动作
fǎn
反复
shēng
发生
  
)

She has been singing this song all these days. (The action takes place repeatedly. )

4
Zhèxiē
这些
nián
zhí
一直
  
/
zǒng
  
/
zǒngshì
总是
zài
xiǎngniàn
想念
de
jiāxiāng
家乡
  
  
(
zhuàngtài
状态
de
chí
持续
  
)

He kept missing home all these years. (The state continues.)

Only 一直 is used:
1. To emphasize to move on along the same direction without making any turn.
2. When emphasizing the range, it collocates with 都 or 全.
5
zhí
一直
wǎng
běi
zǒu
  
,
jiù
可以
kàndào
看到
běijīngxué
北京大学
le
  

Go straight to the north, you'll see Peking University.

6
Cóng
10
10
suì
de
xiǎohái
小孩
zhí
一直
dào
80
80
suì
de
lǎorén
老人
dōu
fēicháng
非常
huan
喜欢
zhège
这个
jué
角色
  

People from the age of 10 to the age of 80 like this character very much.

Only 总 is used - 1
To emphasize that the final result must be like this.
7
yào
不要
dānxīn
担心
  
,
zǒnghuì
总会
tōngguò
通过
kǎoshì
考试
de
  

Don't worry, you'll pass the exam at last.

8
Suīrán
虽然
pǎo
de
hěn
màn
  
,
dàn
zǒng
néng
pǎo
dào
zhōngdiǎn
终点
de
  

Although I'm running slowly, I'll make it to the finish line at last.

Only 总 is used - 2
To emphasize that something must be done no matter what happens.
9
Děng
le
tiān
le
  
,
zǒng
yào
jiàndào
见到
jīng
经理
cái
néng
huíqu
回去
  

We waited all day long, no matter what happens we need to see the manager.

10
Xiǎng
shān
爬山
huòshì
或是
cān
野餐
  
,
zǒng
yào
děngdào
等到
大雨
tíng
le
cái
háng
  

Either go climbing or have a picnic, we need to wait until the rain stops.

Only 总 is used - 3
To make an inference or estimation and express the meaning of "about" or "at least".
11
Dào
xiànzài
现在
men
我们
pǎo
le
zǒng
yǒu
wàn
一万
le
  

Until now, we ran at least 10,000 meters.

12
men
你们
tōngdiànhuà
通电话
de
shíjiān
时间
tài
cháng
le
  
,
zǒng
yǒu
xiǎoshí
小时
le
  

You've been talking on the telephone for a long time, at least one hour.

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with 总, 总是 or 一直:

 

1. 好好努力吧,( )有 一 天会成功的。

2. 我今天( )在上课, 没时间出去玩儿。

3. ( )往前走, 就能看到你想去的那个书店了。

4. 今天开会时, 他( )是出去接电话, 好像有什么紧急的事情。

5. 从队伍的这一 头( )到那 一 头都是来找工作的。

6. 我的论文写了( )有一万字了吧。

7. 来我家做客,( )要吃一顿饭再回家吧。

8. 心里害怕的时候, 我( )会想起妈妈。