One line that works on time and on streets alike

Where the picture shows up in 一直

1. 1

   the line laid over time

   他一直在门口等你。

   tā yì zhí zài mén kǒu děng nǐ

   He has been waiting for you at the door the whole time.

   A patch of melted snow around the feet of a man standing at an entrance

   With 在 it shows the action ran on through the whole stretch.

2. 2

   the line laid over a street

   一直往前走，银行在右边。

   yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu, yín háng zài yòu bian

   Go straight ahead, the bank is on the right.

   A flat hand held like a blade, sweeping forward once for someone asking the way

   Paired with 往 it is the standard line for giving directions.

3. 3

   the line laid over a heart

   我一直很喜欢这个工作。

   wǒ yì zhí hěn xǐ huan zhè ge gōng zuò

   I have always liked this job.

   A row of staff badges from year after year lined up together in a desk drawer

4. 4

   the line laid over the sky

   从早上到现在一直下雨。

   cóng zǎo shang dào xiàn zài yì zhí xià yǔ

   It has been raining from morning until now.

   Water falling from the eaves in a thread that never once breaks

   With 从…到… the two ends of the line become explicit.

5. 5

   the line laid over a child

   这个孩子一直咳嗽，要去看医生。

   zhè ge hái zi yì zhí ké sou, yào qù kàn yī shēng

   This child keeps coughing — we need to see a doctor.

   A hand rubbing a child's back without pause under a lamp left on all night