常に
つねに · tsuneni · JLPT N3 · adverb
always (same as いつも) (written expression)
🕰️ 常 = constant, usual + に (makes an adverb) = constantly, always
常 means constant or usual, as in 日常 (daily life) and 正常 (normal). Adding に turns it into an adverb, so 常に means constantly. It is the formal written form of いつも.
常 — 巾 (cloth) + 尚 (phonetic, 'esteem')
Originally written 裳, 常 was a phono-semantic compound: 巾 ('cloth') gave the meaning and 尚 supplied the sound, referring to a long lower garment or skirt. Over time the meaning shifted from 'everyday garment' to 'ordinary, regular, constant', while 裳 took over the original clothing sense.