长 cháng — length; long; forever; always; constantly; chief
这条河很长。Zhè tiáo hé hěn cháng.This river is very long.
Common words: 长大 (zhǎng dà)、家长 (jiā zhǎng)、队长 (duì zhǎng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "always"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "always", including 长 (cháng), 常 (cháng), 总 (zǒng), 永 (yǒng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "always" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 长 (cháng), 常 (cháng), 总 (zǒng), 永 (yǒng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span cháng, zǒng, yǒng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 长 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 长 chánglength; long; forever; always; constantly; chiefUseful words: 长大, 家长
- 常 chángalways; ever; often; frequently; common; generalUseful words: 非常, 常常
- 总 zǒngalways; to assemble; gather; total; overall; headUseful words: 总是, 总结
- 永 yǒngforever; always; perpetual (ly)Useful words: 永远, 永恒
Common words for these 4 "always" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 长 (cháng) — so "always" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
长大zhǎng dàto grow up家长jiā zhǎnghead of a household; family head; patriarch; parent or guardian of a child队长duì zhǎngcaptain; team leader非常fēi chángvery; really; unusual; extraordinary常常cháng chángfrequently; often正常zhèng chángnormal; regular总是zǒng shìalways总结zǒng jiéto sum up; to conclude; summary; résumé总统zǒng tǒngpresident (of a country)永远yǒng yuǎnforever; eternal
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "always".
常 cháng — always; ever; often; frequently; common; general
我常常去图书馆看书。Wǒ cháng cháng qù tú shū guǎn kàn shū.I often go to the library to read.
Common words: 非常 (fēi cháng)、常常 (cháng cháng)、正常 (zhèng cháng)
总 zǒng — always; to assemble; gather; total; overall; head
他总是第一个到教室。Tā zǒng shì dì yī ge dào jiào shì.He is always the first to arrive at the classroom.
Common words: 总是 (zǒng shì)、总结 (zǒng jié)、总统 (zǒng tǒng)
永 yǒng — forever; always; perpetual (ly)
我会永远记得这段美好的时光。Wǒ huì yǒng yuǎn jì de zhè duàn měi hǎo de shí guāng.I will always remember this wonderful time.
Common words: 永远 (yǒng yuǎn)、永恒 (yǒng héng)、永不 (yǒng bù)
All 4 characters
Open 长、常、总 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.