Usage and Nuance
"成天" is a colloquial adverb meaning "all day long" or "the whole day." It often carries a slightly negative or complaining tone, implying that the action happens excessively or annoyingly throughout the day.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used to describe repetitive or continuous actions, especially those that might be bothersome or tiresome, such as complaining, playing games, or being busy without rest.
Collocations and Patterns
- 成天抱怨 (complain all day long): emphasizes constant complaining.
- 成天玩游戏 (play games all day): highlights continuous leisure or distraction.
- 成天忙于 (busy all day with): stresses nonstop busyness.
Register and Tone
"成天" is informal and common in spoken Mandarin. It is not typically used in formal writing.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "成天" with "整天" which also means "all day" but is more neutral. "成天" often implies a sense of annoyance or excess.