Synonym of Often in Chinese

Introduction:
常常 chángcháng, 經常经常 jīngcháng, 往往 wǎngwǎng, 平常 píngcháng, and 時常时常 shícháng share a similar meaning of “often” or “frequently,” but there are some differences in their usages and connotations.

常(常) cháng(cháng)

Adverb

常(常) cháng(cháng) means “often” and is always interchangeably with 經常经常 jīngcháng. However, it can sometimes imply a slightly more casual or less frequent occurrence than 經常经常 jīngcháng. To negate it, you must drop one 常 cháng, to make it become 不常 bùcháng.

他們tāmen公司gōngsī常(常)cháng(cháng)加班jiābān他们tāmen公司gōngsī常(常)cháng(cháng)加班jiābān
They often work overtime. (經常经常 ✅)

你nǐ應該yīnggāi常(常)cháng(cháng)運動yùndòng你nǐ应该yìnggāi常(常)cháng(cháng)运动yùndòng
You should exercise more often. (經常经常 ✅)

我wǒ我wǒ不常bùcháng不常bùcháng自己zìjǐ做飯zuòfàn自己zìjǐ做饭zuòfàn
I don’t often make my own meals. (經常经常 ✅)

Using 常 by itself with a simple verb indicates future frequent actions in spoken Chinese.

常cháng聯絡liánluò常cháng联络liánluò
Keep in touch!

常cháng來lái玩wán常cháng来lái玩wán
Let’s come hang out often!

經常/经常 jīngcháng

Adverb / Adjective

It implies a regular or frequent occurrence. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts. And if there’s a subject, it always goes after the subject.

When it uses as an adverb, it is interchangeable with 常常 chángcháng.

哥哥gēge經常jīngcháng下班xiàbān後hòu就jiù去qù超市chāoshì買mǎi晚餐wǎncān哥哥gēge经常jīngcháng下班xiàbān后hòu就jiù去qù超市chāoshì买mǎi晚餐wǎncān
My brother often goes to the supermarket after work to buy dinner. (Adv. 常常✅)

我wǒ不bù經常jīngcháng做zuò運動yùndòng我wǒ不bù经常jīngcháng做zuò运动yùndòng
I don’t do exercise often. (Adv. 常常✅)

參加cānjiā客戶kèhù的de派對pàiduì是shì我們wǒmen經常jīngcháng的de活動huódòng参加cānjiā客户kèhù的de派对pàiduì是shì我们wǒmen经常jīngcháng的de活动huódòng
Attending our clients’ parties is a regular activity. (Adj. 常常❌)

* Note that the function and grammar of 經常经常 jīngcháng and 時常时常 shícháng are almost the same, but 經常经常 jīngcháng implies a higher frequency or regularity than 時常时常 shícháng.

往往 wǎngwǎng

Adverb

往往 wǎngwǎng means “often” in the sense of “frequently” or “typically.” Unlike 常常 chángcháng often used to describe a habit or routine, 往往 wǎngwǎng implies a tendency and is often used to describe a pattern or trend. It suggests that something happens often in past experiences. Therefore, 往往 wǎngwǎng is used in certain conditions to mean how things can be or are like. It’s a conclusion or judgment of a regular situation.

You can always use 常常 chángcháng to replace 往往 wǎngwǎng, but not the other way around, since 往往 wǎngwǎng always needs a certain condition or situation.

我wǒ心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo的de時候shíhòu往往wǎngwǎng會huì一個人yígerén去qù看電影kàndiànyǐng我wǒ心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo的de时候shíhòu往往wǎngwǎng会huì一个人yígerén去qù看电影kàndiànyǐng
I tend to go to the movies alone when I’m in a bad mood. (Certain condition)

有錢人yǒuqiánrén往往wǎngwǎng都dōu喜歡xǐhuān買mǎi看不懂kànbùdǒng的de畫huà有钱人yǒuqiánrén往往wǎngwǎng都dōu喜欢xǐhuan买mǎi看不懂kànbùdǒng的de画huà
Rich people often like to buy paintings that they can’t understand. (Judgment of a regular situation)

台北táiběi的de夏天xiàtiān往往wǎngwǎng很hěn濕熱shīrè台北táiběi的de夏天xiàtiān往往wǎngwǎng很hěn湿热shīrè
Summer in Taipei is often very hot and humid. (Conclusion)

There’s no negation for 往往 wǎngwǎng, but you can negate the verb after 往往 wǎngwǎng.

學xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén不bù往往wǎngwǎng覺得juéde中文zhōngwén容易róngyì学xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén不bù往往wǎngwǎng觉得juéde中文zhōngwén容易róngyì ❌
People who learn Chinese often don’t find it easy.

學xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng不bù覺得juéde中文zhōngwén容易róngyì学xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng不bù觉得juéde中文zhōngwén容易róngyì ✅
People who learn Chinese often don’t find it easy.

平常 píngcháng

Adverb / Adjective

平常 píngcháng refers to the normal or ordinary state of things. It describes a regular or typical situation that is not particularly noteworthy or exceptional. When it uses as an adverb, it is interchangeable with 常常 chángcháng.

你nǐ平常píngcháng週末zhōumò都dōu做zuò什麼shénme？ 你nǐ平常píngcháng周末zhōumò都dōu做zuò什么shénme？
What do you usually do on weekends? (Adv. 常常✅)

我wǒ平常píngcháng不bù吃chī早餐zǎocān， 因為yīnwèi我wǒ想xiǎng多duō睡shuì一點yìdiǎn我wǒ平常píngcháng不bù吃chī早餐zǎocān， 因为yīnwèi我wǒ想xiǎng多duō睡shuì点儿diǎnr
I usually don’t eat breakfast because I want to sleep more. (Adv. 常常✅)

在zài法國fǎguó蝸牛guāniú是shì很hěn平常píngcháng的de菜cài在zài法国fǎguó蜗牛wōniú是shì很hěn平常píngcháng的de菜cài
Snails are a very common dish in France. (Adj. 常常❌)

There’s no negation for 平常 píngcháng, but you can negate the verb after 平常 píngcháng.

弟弟dìdi不bù平常píngcháng開車kāichē去qù上班shàngbān弟弟dìdi不bù平常píngcháng开车kāichē去qù上班shàngbān ❌
Brother usually does not drive to work.

弟弟dìdi平常píngcháng不bù開車kāichē去qù上班shàngbān弟弟dìdi平常píngcháng不bù开车kāichē去qù上班shàngbān ✅
Brother usually does not drive to work.

Practice

1. I often take the subway to work

2. He is often late for important matters.

3. He doesn’t send us messages very often.

4. This kind of thing is very common in the city.

5. It’s a regular thing for her to forget to bring money.