一直
yī zhí HSK 3

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

他一直学习。
Tā yīzhí xuéxí.
He studies all the time.
我们一直走。
Wǒmen yīzhí zǒu.
We keep walking straight.
她一直很忙。
Tā yīzhí hěn máng.
She is always busy.
他一直很忙。
Tā yīzhí hěn máng.
He is always busy.
我一直想家。
Wǒ yīzhí xiǎng jiā.
I miss home all the time.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of '一直' as 'one straight line' – it represents something going in one direction without stopping, either in time (continuously) or space (straight ahead).

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. Commonly describes ongoing actions (e.g., '一直学习' - keep studying), persistent states (e.g., '一直很忙' - always busy), or physical direction (e.g., '一直走' - go straight).

📖 Grammar Points

Placed before a verb or adjective to modify it (e.g., 一直 + V/Adj). Can be used with negation (e.g., 一直不 - continuously not). In directional use, it precedes verbs of movement (e.g., 一直往北走 - go straight north).

🏯 Cultural Notes

Reflects a cultural emphasis on persistence and continuity in actions, such as in commitments or efforts. No strong additional nuance.

🔄 Similar Words

Often compared to 总是 (zǒngshì - 'always'), but 一直 focuses more on continuous, unbroken duration, while 总是 implies habitual repetition. Also differs from 从来 (cónglái - 'ever since'), which emphasizes 'from the past until now.'

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