The adverb 始终 "from beginning to end"

We use the adverb 始终

to emphasize the action was happening the whole time. We should put this adverb before the predicate which is expressed by a verb or a verb-phrase.

Examples

这个比赛始终很有意思

This contest was interesting from the beginning to an end

zhè ge bǐsài shǐzhōng hěn yǒuyìsi

我们尽力的话，能始终保持健康

If we try hard, we can always be healthy

wǒmen jìnlì dehuà, néng shǐzhōng bǎochí jiànkāng

If we state the negative particles 不

or 没

after the adverb 始终, it will be translated as “still couldn’t”.

Examples

我等了很久，但始终没等到

I couldn’t wait any longer even though I’d already waited for long time

wǒ děng le hěnjiǔ, dàn shǐzhōng méi děngdào

Pay attention

Remember the collocation 始终如