一直

yī zhí

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Adverb Very common

Definitions

1. straight (in a straight line)
2. continuously; always; all the way through

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

突然

tū rán

sudden; abrupt; unexpected

continuously vs suddenly

Related words

1 item

总是

zǒng shì

always

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not use 一直 to mean 'as always' or 'as usual'. For 'He is as busy as always', say 他跟平常一样忙, not 他一直忙.

Grammar

Guides that feature 一直

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 7 min

Time Adverbs 刚, 才, 一直, 马上, 先

Say that something just happened, happened late, kept going, or will happen right away with 刚, 才, 一直, 马上, 先 and 一会儿.

Reading: yī zhí Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown

雨一直下个不停。

The rain kept falling continuously.

电话一直占线。

The phone line has been busy.

他一直在追求自己的梦想。

He has always been pursuing his dream.

人类一直试图征服大自然。

Humans have always tried to conquer nature.

这种病一直折磨着他。

This illness has been tormenting him continuously.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 一直

in the past always

straight ahead

go straight on

Child Words of 一直

one

straight

一直