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HSK 3

一直

continuously; always

adverbneutral4 episodes
一
yī1st tone
直
zhí2nd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
yìzhí
Part of speech
adverb
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
9
Register
neutral
In episodes
4

Stroke order for 一直

一直 is written with 9 strokes (一: 1, 直: 8). The animation replays automatically.

What does 一直 mean?

一直 (yìzhí) is a high-frequency adverb with two related senses.

The main sense is temporal: 'continuously, all along, the whole time' — describing an action or state that has gone on without break (我一直在等你 'I've been waiting for you the whole time'). The second sense is directional: 'straight, in a straight line' — used when giving directions (一直走 'go straight'). Two things English speakers often miss.

First, the temporal 一直 covers both 'all along (until now)' and 'continuously (still going)', and is often used with 都 for emphasis: 我一直都喜欢中文. Second, when giving directions, 一直 is the natural everyday word for 'straight ahead' — taxi drivers, friends giving directions, and maps all use it. Note the tone: 一 stays yì (fourth tone) because 直 is also a non-fourth tone (second).

Character by character

一yīone; single
+
直zhístraight; direct
=
一直

Memory hook: 一 (one) + 直 (straight) = one straight line — through time, or through space.

Hear 一直 in real episodes

一直 appears in 4 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

A 64-Year Marmot Study Lost Its Funding. So the Professor Put the Marmots on OnlyFans.一直 spoken at natural speedeasyTwo Pygmy Goats Boarded a Portland City Bus. Some Passengers Never Looked Up From Their Phones.一直 spoken at natural speedeasyA Magnitude 7.4 Quake Flattened Western Colombia. Under the Rubble, a Trapped Man Said: 'I'm With a Baby.'一直 spoken at natural speedmediumColombia Swore In a New President in a University Arena. The Old One Locked the Barracks and Stayed Home.一直 spoken at natural speedeasy
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Example sentences

我一直在等你。

Wǒ yìzhí zài děng nǐ.

I've been waiting for you the whole time.

spoken

一直走，然后右转。

Yìzhí zǒu, ránhòu yòu zhuǎn.

Go straight, then turn right.

spoken

他一直都很努力。

Tā yìzhí dōu hěn nǔlì.

He's always worked hard.

neutral

我一直想去中国。

Wǒ yìzhí xiǎng qù Zhōngguó.

I've always wanted to go to China.

neutral

从早上一直到晚上，他都在工作。

Cóng zǎoshang yìzhí dào wǎnshang, tā dōu zài gōngzuò.

From morning all the way until night, he was working.

neutral

Common phrases with 一直

一直在yìzhí zàihave been (doing) all along
一直走yìzhí zǒugo straight (ahead)
一直都yìzhí dōuall along; the whole time
一直到yìzhí dàoall the way until
一直以为yìzhí yǐwéihad always thought (mistakenly)

Synonyms

总是zǒng shì

总是 means 'always' as a habitual pattern ('he always forgets'). 一直 emphasises uninterrupted duration ('all along, the whole time'). 他总是迟到 (always late, as a habit) vs 他一直在等 (has been waiting the whole time).

一向yíxiàng

一向 also means 'all along, consistently' but refers more to character or long-standing habit ('I've always been quiet'). 一直 is broader and covers both short and long durations.

Don't confuse 一直 with

一定yídìng

一定 means 'definitely / certainly' (certainty). 一直 means 'continuously / all along' (duration). Same first character, different meanings entirely.

一起yìqǐ

一起 means 'together (with)'. 一直 means 'continuously / straight'. 我们一起去 ('let's go together') vs 我们一直走 ('keep walking straight').

正在zhèngzài

正在 marks an action in progress RIGHT NOW ('I'm eating right now'). 一直 marks an action that has continued OVER TIME ('I've been eating the whole time'). 我正在吃 vs 我一直在吃.

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

安静quiet办法method, plan报警to call the police本来originally城市city吃惊astonished当时at that time地震earthquake动作movement废墟rubble, ruins跟着to follow公交public transit, bus

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