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`[一度]{いちど(ひとたび)}` means `once`, but `[一遍]{いっぺん}` also mean `once` in sentences
like `once I did something` or `once I am a something`.

`常に` means `always` in sentences like `I always am a something` or `I always
do something`

But idiomatically, `Once bitten twice shy` is translated as
`[羹]{あつもの}に[懲]{こ}りて[膾]{なます}を[吹]{ふ}く` in Japanese.

So if I want to say `Once a thief, always a thief`, is this phrase grammatical
`盗人一度, 常に盗人`?

What if I want to say `Once a X, always a X`? and X is a noun/noun phrase?
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2013-06-05T15:26:20.473
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adverbs time english-to-japanese
How to translate "once" and "every" in Japanese? 一度 or いつも
I believe you are making the mistake of attempting to replicate an English
pattern in Japanese.

As snailboat points out, the idiomatic equivalent is as follows:

> 泥棒はいつまでたっても泥棒。／三つ子の魂百まで。／性格を変えることはできない。

And if you make this search,

<http://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=Once+a+always+a>

one finds that the nearest Japanese equivalent seems to be:

> noun phrase はいつまでたっても noun phrase

If one uses the vocabulary you suggested, the nearest equivalent seems to be:

> Once an actor, always an actor. 一度役者をやればやめられない。 Once an addict, always an
> addict. 一度中毒になるとやめられない。
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2013-06-05T16:03:47.247
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For "Once a X, always a X", some suggestions would be 「Xはなおらず」 or 「XはXのまま」.
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2013-06-13T17:14:02.973
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answer