Synonym of Times in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

次 · 遍 · 場 · 趟 · 頓 · 回 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

6 Ways to Say “Times” in Chinese

English mostly relies on one word, “time(s)” — Mandarin splits the idea across six different measure words.

There are several different measure words that can be translated into “time” in Mandarin Chinese: 次 cì, 遍 biàn, 场 chǎng, 趟 tàng, 顿 dùn, and 回 huí.

一

次 cì

General “Time (Occurrence)”

It emphasizes the frequency of a repeated action rather than the completion of an action or the time spent performing it. This is also the most common way of describing how frequently or how many times you have done something.

🔎 Just counts the number of times. No extra meaning.
你nǐ再zài说shuō一yí次cì。
Say it one more time.
我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu要yào喝hē三sān次cì咖啡kāfēi。
I drink coffee three times a day.
我wǒ已经yǐjīng去过qùguò几jǐ次cì上海shànghǎi了le。
I’ve been to Shanghai a few times.
这zhè药yào一天yìtiān要yào吃chī两liǎng次cì。
This medicine needs to be taken twice a day.
二

遍 biàn

From Beginning to End

遍 biàn is used to indicate that something has been done or happened throughout an entire area or object. It is used with verbs or actions that involve going through a complete cycle. 次 cì can be used interchangeably with 遍 biàn, but 遍 biàn cannot be used in place of 次 cì.

🔎 The action goes through the whole thing.
这本zhè běn书shū我wǒ看kàn了le两liǎng遍biàn。
I have read this book twice.
这zhè衣服yīfú我wǒ洗xǐ了le三sān遍biàn还是háishì不bù干净gānjìng。
I’ve washed this cloth three times, but it is still not clean.
洗衣机xǐyījī的de使用shǐyòng方法fāngfǎ我wǒ已经yǐjīng说shuō了le很多hěnduō遍biàn了le。
I’ve explained how to use the washing machine many times.
这zhè首shǒu歌gē我wǒ听tīng了le十几shíjǐ遍biàn。
I’ve listened to this song over ten times.
三

场 chǎng

Events with a “Scene” or Occasion

场 chǎng is used to count the number of times an event or activity has taken place. It is often used for events or activities that involve a performance or competition.

🔎 One whole event or occasion that unfolds as a complete scene.
今天jīntiān早上zǎoshàng下xià了le一yì场chǎng大雨dàyǔ。
There was heavy rain this morning.
我wǒ这个zhège月yuè要yào参加cānjiā两liǎng场chǎng婚礼hūnlǐ。
I will attend two weddings this month.
台湾táiwān每年měinián有yǒu四sì场chǎng球赛qiúsài。
There are four games in Taiwan every year.
这zhè场chǎng演唱会yǎnchànghuì我wǒ等děng了le很久hěnjiǔ。
I’ve waited a long time for this concert.
四

趟 tàng

Round Trip / Movement Trip

趟 tàng is used to count the number of times a round trip is made or a journey is taken. It is used with verbs or actions that involve going and coming back.

🔎 A trip involving movement (usually go and return).
我wǒ去qù了le上海shànghǎi一yí趟tàng。
I went to Shanghai one time.
这zhè车chē载zài了le两liǎng趟tàng煤méi。
This truck has transported two loads of coal.
因为yīnwèi孩子háizi病bìng得de很hěn严重yánzhòng，所以suǒyǐ我wǒ一晚yìwǎn跑pǎo了le三sān趟tàng医院yīyuàn。
My child is very sick, so I ran to the hospital 3 times a night.
你nǐ能不能néngbùnéng帮bāng我wǒ跑pǎo一yí趟tàng邮局yóujú？
Could you make a trip to the post office for me?
五

顿 dùn

Meals, or a “Round” of Something

顿 dùn is the measure word for a meal. It’s also used for a single, discrete round of something you receive all at once — like a scolding or a nagging.

🔎 One complete round — a meal, or a burst of something received at once.
我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ吃chī了le一yí顿dùn饭fàn。
I only had one meal today.
他tā被bèi老板lǎobǎn骂mà了le一yí顿dùn。
He got scolded by his boss.
我们wǒmen去qù吃chī一yí顿dùn大餐dàcān庆祝qìngzhù吧ba！
Let’s go have a big meal to celebrate!
他tā因为yīnwèi迟到chídào被bèi妈妈māma念niàn了le一yí顿dùn。
He got nagged by his mom for being late.
六

回 huí

General “Time,” Slightly Literary

回 huí works much like 次 cì for counting occurrences, but carries a slightly more literary or old-fashioned flavor. It’s also the traditional measure word for a chapter in classical Chinese novels.

🔎 Like 次, but with an older, more literary feel.
这zhè是shì我wǒ第一dìyī回huí来lái台湾táiwān。
This is the first time I’ve come to Taiwan.
我wǒ劝quàn了le他tā好几hǎojǐ回huí，他tā还是háishì不bù听tīng。
I’ve advised him several times, but he still doesn’t listen.
这件事zhè jiàn shì我wǒ已经yǐjīng解释jiěshì过guò好几hǎojǐ回huí了le。
I’ve already explained this matter several times.
这本zhè běn小说xiǎoshuō一共yígòng有yǒu一百二十yìbǎi èrshí回huí。
This novel has a total of 120 chapters.
07  ·  A Closer Look

Do They Overlap?

Yes, there can be some overlap between these counting words depending on the context in which they are used. For example, both 次cì and 趟tàng can be used to count a journey or trip. Similarly, both 遍biàn and 场chǎng can describe the frequency of an event. However, each counting word still has its own specific usage and nuance.

今年jīnnián夏天xiàtiān我wǒ去qù了le两liǎng（趟tàng／次cì）韩国hánguó。
I went to Korea twice this summer.
日本rìběn跟gēn韩国hánguó比bǐ了le三sān（遍biàn／场chǎng）的de棒球bàngqiú还是háishì没méi分出fēnchū胜负shèngfù。
Japan and Korea played three games of baseball and still did not know the winner.
08  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordCore MeaningTypical Use
次cì general, repeated occurrence everyday, most common choice
遍biàn a full pass, start to finish reading, watching, washing, redoing
场chǎng one whole event or scene games, performances, weather events
趟tàng a round trip errands, journeys, going and coming back
顿dùn one meal, or a discrete “round” meals, scoldings, nagging
回huí general occurrence, literary like 次, plus novel chapters
09  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 12
I’ve called him three times, but he never picks up.
我wǒ打dǎ了le他tā三sān    电话diànhuà，他tā都dōu不bù接jiē。
I’ve watched this movie five times from start to finish.
这部zhè bù电影diànyǐng我wǒ从头到尾cóngtóudàowěi看kàn了le五wǔ    。
There will be a basketball game at the school tomorrow.
明天míngtiān学校xuéxiào有yǒu一yì    篮球赛lánqiúsài。
I need to make a trip to the bank this afternoon.
我wǒ今天jīntiān下午xiàwǔ要yào去qù一yí    银行yínháng。
We haven’t had a proper meal together in a long time.
我们wǒmen已经yǐjīng很久hěnjiǔ没有méiyǒu好好hǎohǎo吃chī一yí    饭fàn了le。
This is the second time she’s been late this week.
这zhè是shì她tā这zhè礼拜lǐbài第二dì’èr    迟到chídào了le。
I’ve retyped this report over ten times.
这份zhè fèn报告bàogào我wǒ重打chóngdǎ了le十几shíjǐ    。
There’s a big concert in the stadium tonight.
今晚jīnwǎn体育场tǐyùchǎng有yǒu一yì    大型dàxíng演唱会yǎnchànghuì。
He got yelled at by his dad for skipping class.
他tā因为yīnwèi翘课qiàokè被bèi爸爸bàba骂mà了le一yí    。
I need to run to the pharmacy real quick.
我wǒ要yào赶快gǎnkuài去qù一yí    药局yàojú。
I’ve told him the answer at least a dozen times.
我wǒ至少zhìshǎo告诉gàosù过guò他tā十几shíjǐ    答案dá’àn了le。
I’ve read this ancient novel’s first chapter three times.
这本zhè běn古典gǔdiǎn小说xiǎoshuō的de第一dìyī    我wǒ看kàn了le三sān次cì。
Complete
0 / 12

questions answered correctly

Back to synonyms list
Enjoyed this post? Buy me a coffee ☕ so I can keep writing more of these.