“Usually” and “sometimes” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
To express the frequency adverbs “usually” and “sometimes” in Chinese, we use the terms 常常 chángcháng and 有時时 yǒushí.

Structure

S + 常常 chángcháng + VO

常常 chángcháng (often, usually) refers to a behavior or action that occurs frequently and with short intervals between occurrences. Therefore, it cannot be used in the negative form. Also, unlike in English, frequency adverbs in Chinese are typically not placed at the end of sentences.

我wǒ常常chángcháng覺得juéde他tā很hěn笨bèn我wǒ常常chángcháng觉得juéde他tā很hěn笨bèn
I often think he is dumb.

你nǐ常常chángcháng在zài上課shàngkè的時候deshíhòu睡覺shuìjiào嗎ma？ 你nǐ常常chángcháng在zài上课shàngkè的时候deshíhou睡觉shuìjiào吗ma？
Do you often sleep during class?

我wǒ常常chángcháng忘記wàngjì新xīn朋友péngyǒu的de名字míngzi我wǒ常常chángcháng忘记wàngjì新xīn朋友péngyou的de名字míngzi
I often forget new friends’ names.

老師lǎoshī常常chángcháng拉肚子lādùzi老师lǎoshī常常chángcháng拉肚子lādùzi
The teacher often has diarrhea.

FYI
I understand that many foreigners may encounter stomach issues when in China or Taiwan due to differences in food. However, when it comes to explaining your condition to a doctor, colleagues, or friends, it’s best to steer clear of using medical terminology like 腹瀉泻 fùxiè for “diarrhea” as found in dictionaries. Instead, a more casual and commonly used term is 拉肚子 lādùzi, which means “having diarrhea.”
Now, here’s another cultural aspect to consider. Is it considered oversharing to inform friends, teachers, or colleagues about your bout of diarrhea? In Chinese culture, it’s actually perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. By letting people know about your situation, they can offer assistance and show their concern.

S + 常 cháng + VO

常 cháng indicates that a behavior occurs more than once; it can also mean ordinary, common, or long-lasting. Therefore, it can be used in the negative form.

我wǒ常cháng在zài早上zǎoshàng喝hē一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi我wǒ常cháng在zài早上zǎoshang喝hē一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi
I often have a cup of coffee in the morning.

我的wǒde狗gǒu常cháng在zài我的wǒde腳jiǎo上shàng睡覺shuìjiào我的wǒde狗gǒu常cháng在zài我的wǒde脚jiǎo上shang睡觉shuìjiào
My dog often sleeps on my feet.

她tā不bù常cháng吃chī早飯zǎofàn她tā不bù常cháng吃chī早饭zǎofàn
She doesn’t often eat breakfast.

你nǐ常cháng練習liànxí中文zhōngwén嗎ma？ 你nǐ常cháng练习liànxí中文zhōngwén吗ma？
Do you often practice Chinese?

S + 有時/有时 yǒushí + VO

有時时 yǒushí means “sometimes” or “at times” in Chinese. It indicates that something occurs occasionally or intermittently. It cannot be used in the negative form, and it is also uncommon to use it in a question form.

他tā有時yǒushí晚上wǎnshàng上課shàngkè他tā有时yǒushí晚上wǎnshang上课shàngkè
He sometimes has evening classes.

我wǒ有時yǒushí覺得juéde做zuò人rén很hěn累lèi我wǒ有时yǒushí觉得juéde做zuò人rén很hěn累lèi
Sometimes I feel tired of living.

貓māo很hěn可愛kěài， 但是dànshì有時yǒushí真的zhēnde很hěn奇怪qíguài猫māo很hěn可爱kěài， 但是dànshì有时yǒushí真的zhēnde很hěn奇怪qíguài
Cats are cute, but sometimes they can be really strange.

有時yǒushí我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān看kàn電影diànyǐng， 有時yǒushí我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān看kàn書shū有时yǒushí我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan看kàn电影diànyǐng， 有时yǒushí我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan看kàn书shū
Sometimes I like to watch movies, and other times I like to read books.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ In Taiwan, I don’t often speak English.

在zài台灣Táiwān我wǒ不bù常cháng說shuō英文yīngwén在zài台湾Táiwān我wǒ不bù常cháng说shuō英文yīngwén

✔️ In Canada, I frequently speak English.

在zài加拿大jiānádà我wǒ常常chángcháng說shuō英文yīngwén在zài加拿大jiānádà我wǒ常常chángcháng说shuō英文yīngwén

✔️ At Chinese restaurants in Canada, I sometimes speak Chinese.

在zài加拿大jiānádà的de中國Zhōngguó餐廳cāntīng， 我wǒ有時yǒushí說shuō中文zhōngwén在zài加拿大jiānádà的de中国Zhōngguó餐厅cāntīng， 我wǒ有时yǒushí说shuō中文zhōngwén