Translation

• straight (in a straight line)
• continuously
• always
• from the beginning of ... up to ...
• all along

Synonyms

• 直, 竖
• 一味, 始终, 尽, 总, 直, 老, 辄, 迄, 镇
• 径直, 直, 直接, 直白, 第一手

Examples

• 我们一直聊天直到天明。
  We talked and talked until the day broke.
• 红绿灯一直在运作。
  Traffic lights work all the time.
• 我一直忙于写一部短篇小说。
  I have been busy writing a short story.
• 海伦的房间一直很干净。
  Helen always keeps her room clean.
• 我们一直讨论到很晚。
  We carried on the discussion till late at night.
• 他让我一直等着。
  He kept me waiting.
• 他一直说个不停。
  He kept talking.
• 我一直等到了最后一分钟。
  I waited until the last minute.