Adverbs of Frequency 2

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, words like 時时刻 shíkè, 時时常 shícháng, 偶爾尔 ǒu’ěr, and 不時时 bùshí are essential for expressing time-related concepts and the frequency of actions or events.

Structure – Adverbs of Frequency + Verb

時时刻 shíkè

時时刻 shíkè means “constantly” or “at all times.” It highlights a continuous state or consistent attention, often appearing in formal or serious contexts.

中文zhōngwén老師lǎoshī時刻shíkè準備zhǔnbèi找zhǎo出chū你nǐ說shuō錯cuò的de中文zhōngwén中文zhōngwén老师lǎoshī时刻shíkè准备zhǔnbèi找zhǎo出chū你nǐ说shuō错cuò的de中文zhōngwén
Chinese teachers are always ready to point out the mistakes in your Chinese.

時刻shíkè關注guānzhù天氣tiānqì變化biànhuà很hěn重要zhòngyào时刻shíkè关注guānzhù天气tiānqì变化biànhuà很hěn重要zhòngyào
It is important to constantly monitor weather changes.

時刻shíkè保持bǎochí冷靜lěngjìng是shì成功chénggōng的de關鍵guānjiàn时刻shíkè保持bǎochí冷静lěngjìng是shì成功chénggōng的de关键guānjiàn
Staying calm at all times is the key to success.

時时常 shícháng

時时常 shícháng means “often” or “frequently.” It describes actions that happen regularly but not constantly. Commonly used in daily speech, it carries a neutral tone.

他tā時常shícháng去qù圖書館túshūguǎn看kàn書shū他tā时常shícháng去qù图书馆túshūguǎn看kàn书shū
He often goes to the library to read.

她tā時常shícháng想起xiǎngqǐ小時候xiǎoshíhòu的de事情shìqíng她tā时常shícháng想起xiǎngqǐ小时候xiǎoshíhòu的de事情shìqing
She often thinks about her childhood.

你nǐ需要xūyào時常shícháng與yǔ朋友péngyǒu說shuō中文zhōngwén才cái不bú會huì退步tuìbù你nǐ需要xūyào时常shícháng与yǔ朋友péngyou说shuō中文zhōngwén才cái不bú会huì退步tuìbù
You need to speak Chinese with your friends often to avoid regressing.

偶爾尔 ǒu’ěr

偶爾尔 ǒu’ěr means “occasionally” or “once in a while.” It refers to actions or events that happen infrequently or irregularly and is often used with actions or habits.

我wǒ偶爾ǒu‘ěr喝hē咖啡kāfēi， 平時píngshí喝hē茶chá我wǒ偶尔ǒu’ěr喝hē咖啡kāfēi， 平时píngshí喝hē茶chá
I occasionally drink coffee; I usually drink tea.

偶爾ǒu‘ěr嘗試chángshì新xīn東西dōngxī可以kěyǐ增加zēngjiā樂趣lèqù偶尔ǒu’ěr尝试chángshì新xīn东西dōngxi可以kěyǐ增加zēngjiā乐趣lèqù
Trying new things occasionally can add fun.

中文zhōngwén老師lǎoshī偶爾ǒu’ěr也yě會huì有yǒu不bù想xiǎng說shuō中文zhōngwén的de時候shíhòu中文zhōngwén老师lǎoshī偶尔ǒu‘ěr也yě会huì有yǒu不bù想xiǎng说shuō中文zhōngwén的de时候shíhou
Even Chinese teachers occasionally have moments when they don’t feel like speaking Chinese.

不時时 bùshí

不時时 bùshí means “from time to time” or “now and then.” It refers to irregular but repeated occurrences, and suggests a slightly higher frequency than 偶爾尔 ǒu’ěr.

他們tāmen不時bùshí回憶huíyì起qǐ旅行lǚxíng的de趣事qùshì他们tāmen不时bùshí回忆huíyì起qǐ旅行lǚxíng的de趣事qùshì
They reminisce about their travel adventures from time to time.

天上tiānshàng不時bùshí飄piāo過guò幾jǐ朵duǒ白雲báiyún天上tiānshang不时bùshí飘piāo过guò几jī朵duǒ白云báiyún
A few clouds drift by in the sky from time to time.

我wǒ最近zuìjìn不時bùshí在zài想xiǎng， 如果rúguǒ我wǒ沒méi當dāng老師lǎoshī我wǒ會huì去qù做zuò什麼shénme我wǒ最近zuìjìn不时bùshí在zài想xiǎng， 如果rúguǒ我wǒ没méi当dāng老师lǎoshī我wǒ会huì去qù做zuò什么shénme
I’ve been thinking from time to time lately about what I would do if I weren’t a teacher.

Comparison