Time Adverbs: 仍旧、时常、依旧、一向
仍旧 and 依旧 (still), 时常 (often) and 一向 (all along) are time adverbs that sit before the verb. The first two say something continues unchanged, 时常 gives frequency, and 一向 says it has been so from the past until now.
In English
These four adverbs deal with time. 仍旧 means "still" and says a situation continues despite a change or difficulty. 依旧 is a close partner, more literary, and often describes scenery or feelings that stay the same.
时常 means "often" and describes repeated actions, mostly in writing. 一向 means "all along": it describes a habit, character or attitude that has held from the past to now. All four go after the subject and before the verb.
| 副词 | 意思 | 用法要点 |
|------|------|----------|
| 仍旧 réng jiù | still, as before | 强调动作/状态在变化或困难中继续，常与虽然/尽管搭配 |
| 依旧 yī jiù | still, unchanged | 与仍旧近义，书面/抒情色彩更浓，常修饰景色、感情 |
| 时常 shí cháng | often, frequently | 描述反复发生的动作，书面语，近似'经常' |
| 一向 yī xiàng | all along, always | 描述从过去到现在一直不变的性格/习惯/态度 |
✅ 尽管很忙，他仍旧每天读书。（继续，despite困难）
✅ 多年过去，故乡的山水依旧美丽。（不变，抒情）
✅ 他时常去图书馆看书。（频率）
✅ 他一向很认真，从不马虎。（一贯的性格）
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 虽然搬了新家，他仍旧保持着每天读书的习惯。 | Suī rán bān le xīn jiā, tā réng jiù bǎo chí zhe měi tiān dú shū de xí guàn. | Although he moved to a new home, he still keeps up his daily reading habit. | 仍旧 emphasizes an action/habit continuing despite a change (搬家). |
| 多年过去，家乡的风景依旧那么美丽。 | Duō nián guò qù, jiā xiāng de fēng jǐng yī jiù nà me měi lì. | Years have passed, but the scenery of my hometown remains just as beautiful. | 依旧 modifies scenery/state in a more literary register, expressing that nothing has changed over time. |
| 他一向对工作很认真，从不马虎。 | Tā yī xiàng duì gōng zuò hěn rèn zhēn, cóng bù mǎ hu. | He has always been serious about his work and never careless. | 一向 describes a consistent trait held all along, from the past up to now. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
仍旧 (réng jiù)
Says a situation stays the same despite a change or difficulty.
Structure: subject + 仍旧 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 过了这么多年，她仍旧住在那个小镇上。 | Guò le zhè me duō nián, tā réng jiù zhù zài nà gè xiǎo zhèn shàng. | After all these years, she still lives in that small town. |
| 医生说他的病情仍旧不稳定。 | Yī shēng shuō tā de bìng qíng réng jiù bù wěn dìng. | The doctor says his condition is still unstable. |
| 虽然失败了好几次，他仍旧没有放弃。 | Suī rán shī bài le hǎo jǐ cì, tā réng jiù méi yǒu fàng qì. | Although he failed several times, he still did not give up. |
Not: 他仍旧开始学习汉语。 仍旧 means "still, unchanged", so it cannot mark a new start.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, adverbs (时间副词).
依旧 (yī jiù)
Like 仍旧 but more literary, often used for scenery and feelings that stay as they were.
Structure: subject + 依旧 + adjective or verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 十年没回来，老房子依旧是那个样子。 | Shí nián méi huí lái, lǎo fáng zi yī jiù shì nà gè yàng zi. | I have not come back in ten years, and the old house looks just the same. |
| 他的笑容依旧那么温暖。 | Tā de xiào róng yī jiù nà me wēn nuǎn. | His smile is as warm as ever. |
| 河水依旧向东流。 | Hé shuǐ yī jiù xiàng dōng liú. | The river still flows east. |
Not: 他依旧去过那儿。 依旧 says a state stays the same. It does not combine with 过 for experiences.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, adverbs (时间副词).
时常 (shí cháng)
Means "often", describing actions that repeat, mostly in writing.
Structure: subject + 时常 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他时常加班到很晚。 | Tā shí cháng jiā bān dào hěn wǎn. | He often works overtime until late. |
| 小时候，奶奶时常给我讲故事。 | Xiǎo shí hòu, nǎi nǎi shí cháng gěi wǒ jiǎng gù shì. | When I was little, grandma often told me stories. |
| 我们时常通电话，所以并不觉得远。 | Wǒ men shí cháng tōng diàn huà, suǒ yǐ bìng bù jué de yuǎn. | We often talk on the phone, so it does not feel far. |
Not: 我时常昨天去图书馆。 时常 describes a habit. It does not go with one specific day.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (频率副词).
一向 (yī xiàng)
Describes a habit or attitude that has stayed the same from the past up to now.
Structure: subject + 一向 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他一向早睡早起，从不熬夜。 | Tā yí xiàng zǎo shuì zǎo qǐ, cóng bù áo yè. | He has always gone to bed early and got up early, and never stays up late. |
| 我们公司一向重视员工的意见。 | Wǒ men gōng sī yí xiàng zhòng shì yuán gōng de yì jiàn. | Our company has always valued employees' opinions. |
| 她一向不爱吃辣的。 | Tā yí xiàng bú ài chī là de. | She has never liked spicy food. |
Not: 他今天一向很忙。 一向 covers a long stretch up to now, not a single day.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 6, adverbs (时间副词).
Compared side by side: 仍旧 vs 依旧.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
The same pattern at other levels
- Time Adverbs — HSK 2
- Time Adverbs — HSK 3
- Time adverbs — HSK 4
Questions about Time Adverbs
What does 时间副词 (Time Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
仍旧 and 依旧 (still), 时常 (often) and 一向 (all along) are time adverbs that sit before the verb. The first two say something continues unchanged, 时常 gives frequency, and 一向 says it has been so from the past until now. It is an HSK 5 grammar point.
How do you use 时间副词 (Time Adverbs) in a sentence?
虽然搬了新家，他仍旧保持着每天读书的习惯。 — Suī rán bān le xīn jiā, tā réng jiù bǎo chí zhe měi tiān dú shū de xí guàn. — Although he moved to a new home, he still keeps up his daily reading habit. 仍旧 emphasizes an action/habit continuing despite a change (搬家).
What do you need to know before 时间副词 (Time Adverbs)?
Time adverbs (HSK 4). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 仍旧 and 依旧?
They overlap. 仍旧 stresses continuing despite change or trouble: 仍旧坚持. 依旧 is more literary and often describes scenery or feelings: 风景依旧。
Does 一向 mean "always"?
Roughly. 一向 describes a long-standing habit or attitude up to now: 他一向很守时。 For a habit that will continue, use 总是。
Time Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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