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How to Say ‘Does it hurt all the time, or sometimes?’ in Traditional Chinese

是一直痛，還是有時候痛？

shì yì zhí tòng hái shì yǒu shí hòu tòng

[shir yìzhí tòng háishì yǒushíhou tòng]

💬 Usage Tip: 是 A，還是 B？ asks someone to pick between two choices. 還是 means "or" only in questions like this: 是今天，還是明天？ "is it today or tomorrow?"

Phrase Breakdown

是一直痛，

shì yì zhí tòng

is it constant pain,

This is the first half of an either/or question. 一直 (yìzhí) means 'all the time'. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

雨一直下。

The rain keeps falling.

Words in this phrase

是

shì

[shir]

to be; am/is/are

是 is the verb 'to be' used for identity, emphasis, or agreement.

Example

我也是剛畢業的新鮮人。

I am also a recent graduate.

一直

yì zhí

[yìzhí]

always; all along

Describes something continuing over time.

Example

他一直喝美式咖啡。

He has always drunk Americano.

痛

tòng

[tòng]

painful; to hurt

Describes physical pain in a part of the body.

Example

我的頭很痛。

My head hurts a lot.

還是有時候痛？

hái shì yǒu shí hòu tòng

or does it hurt sometimes?

還是 (háishì) means 'or' in questions. 有時候 (yǒu shíhou) means 'sometimes'.

Example

你要茶還是咖啡？

Do you want tea or coffee?

Words in this phrase

還是

hái shì

[háishì]

or (in questions)

Used to offer a choice between options in a question.

Example

你要咖啡還是茶？

Do you want coffee or tea?

有時候

yǒu shí hòu

[yǒushíhou]

sometimes

Describes something that happens occasionally, not all the time.

Example

他有時候很忙。

He is sometimes very busy.

痛

tòng

[tòng]

painful; to hurt

Describes physical pain in a part of the body.

Example

我的頭很痛。

My head hurts a lot.

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