Adverbs of Frequency 1

Chinese adverbs of frequency are words that indicate how often an action occurs. Some common Chinese adverbs of frequency include:

1. 每天 měitiān – every day
2. 每周 měizhōu – every week
3. 每月 měiyuè – every month
4. 常常 chángcháng – often
5. 經经常 jīngcháng – frequently
6. 總总是 zǒngshì – always
7. 偶爾尔 ǒu‘ěr – occasionally
8. 很少 hěnshǎo – seldom, rarely
9. 從來从来不 cóng lái bù – never

Structure

Adverbs of Frequency + Verb

It’s important to note that Chinese adverbs of frequency can appear before or after the verb they modify, but they generally appear before the adverbs of manner in a sentence.

他tā每天měitiān都dōu得děi喝hē一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi他tā每天měitiān都dōu得děi喝hē一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi
He needs a cup of coffee every day.

他tā打dǎ遊戲yóuxì打dǎ到dào深夜shēnyè才cái睡覺shuìjiào， 常常chángcháng是shì兩liǎng三sān點diǎn他tā打dǎ游戏yóuxì打dǎ到dào深夜shēnyè才cái睡觉shuìjiào， 常常chángcháng是shì两liǎng三sān点diǎn
He plays games until late at night before going to sleep, often at 2-3 am.
(Frequency adverbs appear after the verb they modify usually happens in colloquial speech.)

Adverbs of Frequency + Times

Adverbs of frequency can be paired with other time-related adverbs or phrases to provide additional specificity regarding the frequency.

我wǒ(每)měi兩天liǎngtiān一次yícì去qù游泳yóuyǒng我wǒ(每)měi两天liǎngtiān一次yícì去qù游泳yóuyǒng
I go swimming once every two days.

老師lǎoshī每周měizhōu五天wǔtiān都dōu要yào教課jiāokè老师lǎoshī每周měizhōu五天wǔtiān都dōu要yào教课jiāokè
Teacher teaches five days a week.

大老闆dàlǎobǎn每měi兩個月liǎnggeyuè一次yícì來lái公司gōngsī大老板dàlǎobǎn每měi两个月liǎnggeyuè一次yícì来lái公司gōngsī
The big boss comes to the company every two months.

我wǒ很hěn少shǎo吃chī垃圾食物lèsèshíwù我wǒ很hěn少shǎo吃chī垃圾食品lājīshípǐn
I rarely eat junk food.

You can also separate the adverbs of frequency and the times:

我wǒ兩天liǎngtiān去qù游泳yóuyǒng一次yícì我wǒ两天liǎngtiān去qù游泳yóuyǒng一次yícì
I go swimming once every two days.

老師lǎoshī每周měizhōu都dōu要yào教課jiàokè五天wǔtiān老师lǎoshī每周měizhōu都dōu要yào教课jiàokè五天wǔtiān
Teacher teaches five days a week.

Naver

In Chinese, the word “never” can be translated as 從从未 cóngwèi, 從來沒从来没 cónglái méi, or 從來从来不 cónglái bù, depending on the context and level of formality. Additionally, it is acceptable to omit 來来 without altering the meaning of the sentence.

• 從从未 cóngwèi is the most formal expression used in any situation.

• 從來沒从来没 cónglái méi is a more casual expression used to indicate a complete absence of experience

• 從來从来不 cónglái bù is also a more casual expression used to express a habitual or ongoing action of never doing something.

他tā從未cóngwèi給gěi過guò我wǒ一個yíge禮物lǐwù他tā从未cóngwèi给gěi过guò我wǒ一个yíge礼物lǐwù
He never gave me a gift.

我wǒ從(來)cóng lái 沒méi去qù過guò歐洲ōuzhōu我wǒ从(来)cóng lái 没méi去qù过guò欧洲ōuzhōu
I have never been to Europe.

我wǒ從(來)cóng lái 不bù喝酒hējiǔ我wǒ从(来)cóng lái 不bù喝酒hējiǔ
I never drink.

Making Question

If you want to ask about frequency, you should use the phrase “多常 duōcháng” or “常 cháng + 嗎吗 ma” in Chinese.

你nǐ多常duōcháng去qù蹦迪bèngdí？ 你nǐ多常duōcháng去qù蹦迪bèngdí？
How often do you go clubbing?

FYI
The term 蹦迪 bèngdí is a fun and trendy Chinese slang term that refers to going out dancing at nightclubs. It combines the characters 蹦 bèng, which means to jump or bounce, and 迪 dí, which is a transliteration of the English word “disco.” Together, 蹦迪 conveys the idea of energetic and lively dancing in a club setting. It is commonly used among young people to describe their nightlife activities in China, but not Taiwan.

你nǐ常cháng出國chūguó玩wán嗎ma？ 你nǐ常cháng出国chūguó玩wán吗ma？
Do you often travel abroad?

他tā常cháng翹課qiàokè嗎ma？ 他tā常cháng翘课qiàokè吗ma？
Does he frequently skip classes?

• Difference between 經经常 jīngcháng, 常常 chángcháng, 往往 wǎngwǎng, 平常 píngcháng, and 時时常shícháng

• Difference between 總总是 zǒngshì, 老是 lǎoshì, 一向 yíxiàng and 一直 yìzhí