HSK 6 Adverbs
向来 / 一向 / 历来
Always / all along / historically (向来/一向/历来)
Structure Subject + 向来 / 一向 / 历来 + constant quality or habit
向来 (xiànglái), 一向 (yīxiàng) and 历来 (lìlái) state that something has been so continuously from the past up to now: "all along", "always", "historically". 他向来说话算数 = "he has always been a man of his word". They precede the verb or adjective. 向来 and 一向 mostly describe a sustained personal habit or trait; 历来 covers a broader, historical or collective span: 这里历来重视教育 = "here education has always, since old times, been valued". They are more formal than plain 总是 (always).
Examples
- 他向来说话算数,从不食言。
He has always been a man of his word; he never goes back on a promise.
- 她一向对工作认真负责。
She has always taken her work seriously and responsibly.
- 这个地方历来重视教育。
This place has historically placed great value on education.
- 两国之间历来关系友好。
Relations between the two countries have been friendly all along.
Levels are indicative: they follow the standard Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning) progression, not an official HSK 3.0 mapping. We never assign levels by eye.