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Comparing 一直 ("yi1zhi2") and 一向 ("yi1xiang4")

一直 / 一向 yīzhí yīxiàng

Grammar
HSK 5

Structure

一直 vs. 一向

Translations

  • always
  • all along

Definition

“一直”强调动作或状态从过去到现在的持续进行，没有间断；而“一向”强调一贯如此，指长期以来形成的习惯或特性。

"一直" emphasizes the continuous progress of an action or state from the past to the present without interruption; "一向" emphasizes consistency over a long period, referring to a long-standing habit or characteristic.

Usage

“一直”常用于描述持续性的动作或状态，可以搭配时间词；“一向”常用于描述人的性格、习惯或事物的属性，后面常跟形容词或表示习惯的动词。

"一直" is often used to describe continuous actions or states, and can be paired with time words; "一向" is often used to describe a person's character, habits, or properties of things, followed by adjectives or verbs indicating habits.

Examples

  • 1 从早上到现在，他一直都在工作。（From morning till now, he has been working all the time.）
  • 2 我一直在等你，你终于来了。（I have been waiting for you, and you finally came.）
  • 3 他一向很守时，今天怎么迟到了？（He is always punctual, why is he late today?）
  • 4 这家店的服务一向很好。（The service at this store has always been very good.）
  • 5 他不仅平时努力学习，而且考试前一向会复习到很晚。（Not only does he usually study hard, but he also always reviews until late before exams.）

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