总是 · 通常 · 往往
always · usually · tends to (as a rule)
Structure
主语 + 总是／总 + 动词 · 通常 + 动词 · 往往 + 动词（有规律的情况）
What it means
总是 (short spoken form 总) means “always”, often as a complaint. 通常 means “usually”. 往往 means “tends to”: what normally happens in a certain situation.
How it is built
Subject + 总是／通常／往往 + verb: 他上课总是迟到 (he’s always late for class). 通常 can also start the sentence: 通常我八点半到 (I usually get in at 8:30).
When to use it
总是 is for a person’s repeated behaviour, often annoying: 你怎么总迟到？ 通常 is a neutral “usually”: 我通常坐地铁上班. 往往 states a pattern from experience, so name the situation: 星期一早上，路上的车往往很多.
Watch out
往往 describes how things tend to go; don’t use it for plans or the future: ✗ 我明天往往早起。 ✓ 我通常早起。 Give the situation it depends on (星期一早上…).
Examples
他上课总是迟到。
He’s always late for class.
我通常坐地铁上班。
I usually take the metro to work.
星期一早上，路上的车往往很多。
On Monday mornings the roads tend to be busy.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 5: 又迟到了 (Late again)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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