Chinese Measure Words for “Times”

Grammar Point:
Chinese measure words are used to quantify nouns and indicate the number or frequency of an action or event. When it comes to the concept of “times” or occurrences, there are several measure words that can be used in Chinese, including 遍 biàn, 次 cì, 場场 chǎng, 回 huí, and 下 xià.

遍 biàn:

• It is used to express a complete and comprehensive repetition of an action or event.
• It is often used when referring to going through a set of items, visiting a place, or completing a full cycle.

這zhè本běn書shū我wǒ看kàn了le兩liǎng遍biàn这zhèi本běn书shū我wǒ看kàn了le两liǎng遍biàn
I have read this book twice.

這zhè衣服yīfú我wǒ洗xǐ了le三sān遍biàn還是háishì不bù乾淨gānjìng这zhèi衣服yīfu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.

洗衣機xǐyījī的de使用shǐyòng方法fāngfǎ我wǒ已經yǐjīng說shuō了le很hěn多duō遍biàn了le洗衣机xǐyījī的de使用shǐyòng方法fāngfǎ我wǒ已经yǐjīng说shuō了le很hěn多duō遍biàn了le
The use of the washing machine I have said many times.

次 cì:

• It is a versatile measure word that can be used to indicate the number of times an action or event occurs.
• It is commonly used in everyday conversations to express frequency or repetition.
• The term 次 cì can be used almost interchangeably with 遍 biàn, 場场 chǎng, 回 huí, and 下 xià, but not the other way around.

你nǐ再zài說shuō一yí次cì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已經yǐjīng去qù過guò幾jǐ次cì上海shànghǎi了le我wǒ已经yǐjīng去qù过guò几jī次cì上海shànghǎi了le
I’ve been to Shanghai a few times.

Note: This Measure Word can be placed either in front of an object or after the object.

場/场 chǎng:

• It is specifically used to count occurrences of events or activities that take place in a specific location or venue.
• It is often used for activities such as performances, concerts, meetings, or games.

今天jīntiān早上zǎoshàng下xià了le一yì場chǎng大雨dàyǔ今天jīntiān早上zǎoshang下xià了le一yì场chǎng大雨dàyǔ
There was heavy rain this morning.

我wǒ這個zhège月yuè要yào參加cānjiā兩liǎng場chǎng婚禮hūnlǐ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.

台灣táiwān每年měinián有yǒu四sì場chǎng球賽qiúsài台湾táiwān每年měinián有yǒu四sì场chǎng球赛qiúsài
There are four games in Taiwan every year.

回 huí:

• It is used to count the number of times an action is repeated or an event is revisited.
• It suggests a return or repetition of an action or event.

我wǒ和hàn他tā見jiàn過guò三sān回huí我wǒ和hé他tā见jiàn过guò三sān回huí
I have met him three times.

我wǒ去qù過guò加拿大Jiānádà五wǔ回huí了le， 還是háishì覺得juéde那裡nàlǐ很hěn美měi我wǒ去qù过guò加拿大Jiānádà五wǔ回huí了le， 还是háishì觉得juéde那里nàlǐ很hěn美měi
I have been to Canada five times, and I still think it’s beautiful there.

因為yīnwèi忘wàng了le帶dài東西dōngxī， 她tā公司gōngsī家裡jiālǐ跑pǎo了le三sān回huí因为yīnwèi忘wàng了le带dài东西dōngxi， 她tā公司gōngsī家里jiālǐ跑pǎo了le三sān回huí
Because I forgot something, she had to go back and forth between her company and home three times.

下 xià:

• It is a measure word used to count instances of doing or experiencing something.
• It indicates the next occurrence or the next round of an action.

她tā打dǎ了le我wǒ一yí下xià她tā打dǎ了le我wǒ一yí下xià
She slapped/hit me once.

那個nàge人rén推tuī了le我wǒ幾jǐ下xià那个nàge人rén推tuī了le我wǒ几jǐ下xià
That person pushed me a few times.

我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn踩cǎi了le一yí下xià他的tāde腳jiǎo我wǒ不小心bùxiǎoxīn踩cǎi了le一yí下xià他的tāde脚jiǎo
I accidentally stepped on his foot. (one time)