“Often” in Chinese – 往往 wǎngwǎng

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 4
Grammar Point · HSK 4

往往 wǎngwǎng — “Often” / “Usually”

往往 wǎngwǎng describes what usually happens based on experience or observation — a general tendency, not a specific count of how many times something occurs.

往往 wǎngwǎng — Often, Chinese grammar

往往 wǎngwǎng sits before the verb or adjective and points out a natural pattern — what tends to happen, based on what’s usually observed to be true.

1Structure

S + 往往 wǎngwǎng + V/Adj

Point

往往 wǎngwǎng describes a general pattern drawn from experience — it doesn’t pair with specific counts (like “twice a week”) and it doesn’t appear in imperative sentences. Compare it with 常常 chángcháng, which simply describes habitual repetition without that sense of “naturally tends to.”

忙碌mánglù的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng没有méiyǒu足够zúgòu的de睡眠shuìmián。
Busy people often don’t get enough sleep.
成功chénggōng往往wǎngwǎng需要xūyào长cháng时间shíjiān的de努力nǔlì。
Success often requires long-term effort.
便宜piányi的de东西dōngxi往往wǎngwǎng质量zhìliàng比较bǐjiào差chà。
Cheap things are often lower quality.
他tā往往wǎngwǎng在zài最后zuìhòu一yí刻kè才cái交jiāo作业zuòyè。
He often turns in his homework at the last minute.
下雨天xiàyǔtiān往往wǎngwǎng让ràng人rén心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo。
Rainy days often make people feel down.
年纪niánjì大dà的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng比较bǐjiào有yǒu耐心nàixīn。
Older people are often more patient.
太tài快kuài的de决定juédìng往往wǎngwǎng容易róngyì出错chūcuò。
Decisions made too quickly often turn out to be wrong.

2Common Mistake

❌ 请qǐng你nǐ往往wǎngwǎng看kàn我wǒ的de网站wǎngzhàn复习fùxí中文zhōngwén
✅ 请qǐng你nǐ常常chángcháng看kàn我wǒ的de网站wǎngzhàn复习fùxí中文zhōngwén
往往 wǎngwǎng describes an observed pattern, not a request. Imperative sentences need 常常 chángcháng instead.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01New employees often make small mistakes at the beginning.
新xīn来lái的de员工yuángōng往往wǎngwǎng在zài一yì开始kāishǐ会huì犯fàn小xiǎo错误cuòwù。
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02People in a hurry often forget important things.
匆忙cōngmáng的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng会huì忘记wàngjì重要zhòngyào的de事shì。
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03The weather in spring is often unpredictable.
春天chūntiān的de天气tiānqì往往wǎngwǎng让ràng人rén捉摸不定zhuōmōbúdìng。
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04Good habits often take a long time to develop.
好hǎo习惯xíguàn往往wǎngwǎng需要xūyào很hěn长cháng的de时间shíjiān养成yǎngchéng。
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05People who talk too much often reveal secrets by accident.
话huà太tài多duō的de人rén往往wǎngwǎng不bù小心xiǎoxīn泄漏xièlòu秘密mìmì。
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06Kids who love reading often do better in school.
喜欢xǐhuan阅读yuèdú的de孩子háizi往往wǎngwǎng学业xuéyè表现biǎoxiàn比较bǐjiào好hǎo。
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07Big cities often have more job opportunities.
大dà城市chéngshì往往wǎngwǎng有yǒu比较bǐjiào多duō的de工作gōngzuò机会jīhuì。
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08Students who study every day often get good grades.
每天měitiān读书dúshū的de学生xuéshēng往往wǎngwǎng成绩chéngjì比较bǐjiào好hǎo。
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Related Grammar

→“Usually” in Chinese — 常常 chángcháng, 有时 yǒushí(HSK 3)

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