One time – 下 xià, 趟 tàng, 遍 biàn and 次 cì

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, words like 下 xià、趟 tàng、遍 biàn、次 cì all appear after verbs and are often translated as “time” in English. However, they are not interchangeable. Each one highlights a different aspect of an action, such as frequency, completion, movement, or duration. 

下 xià

It emphasizes that an action is brief, light, or done casually, rather than focusing on how many times it happens or whether it is completed from beginning to end. It often softens the tone of a request or suggestion and makes the action sound quick or less serious.

我wǒ踢tī了le他tā一下yíxià我wǒ踢tī了le他tā一下yíxià
I kicked him once.

她tā親qīn了le我wǒ一下yíxià她tā亲qīn了le我wǒ一下yíxià
She kissed me once.

我wǒ敲qiāo了le三sān下xià門mén我wǒ敲qiāo了le三sān下xià门mén
I knocked on the door three times.

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

趟 tàng

趟 tàng is used to count the number of times a round trip is made or a journey is taken. It is used with verbs or actions that involve going and coming back.

我wǒ去qù了le上海shànghǎi一yí趟tàng我wǒ去qù了le上海shànghǎi一yí趟tàng
I went Shanghai one time.

這zhè車chē載zài了le兩liǎng趟tàng煤méi这zhè车chē载zài了le两liǎng趟tàng煤méi
This truck has transported two loads of coal.

因為yīnwèi孩子háizi病bìng得de很hěn嚴重yánzhòng，所以suǒyǐ我wǒ一晚yìwǎn跑pǎo了le三sān趟tàng醫院yīyuàn因为yīnwèi孩子háizi病bìng得de很hěn严重yánzhòng，所以suǒyǐ我wǒ一晚yìwǎn跑pǎo了le三sān趟tàng医院yīyuàn
My child is very sick, so I ran to the hospital 3 times a night.

🔎 Key idea: A trip involving movement (usually go and return).

遍 biàn

遍 biàn is used to indicate that something has been done or happened throughout an entire area or object. It is used with verbs or actions that involve going through a complete cycle. 次 cì can be used interchangeably with 遍 biàn, but 遍 biàn cannot be used in place of 次 cì.

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.

🔎 Key idea: The action goes through the whole thing.

次 cì

It emphasizes the frequency of a repeated action rather than the completion of an action or the time spent performing it. This is also the most common way of describing how frequently or how many times you have done something.

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.

🔎 Key idea: Just counts the number of times. No extra meaning.

Compare The Differences

我wǒ看kàn了le一次yícì電影diànyǐng我wǒ看kàn了le一次yícì电影diànyǐng
I watched a movie once. (just once)

我wǒ把bǎ電影diànyǐng看kàn了le一yí遍biàn我wǒ把bǎ电影diànyǐng看kàn了le一yí遍biàn
I watched the whole movie. (watched it from beginning to end)

我wǒ去qù了le一yí次cì銀行yínxíng我wǒ去qù了le一yí次cì银行yínxíng
I went to the bank once. (correct but neutral)

我wǒ去qù了le一yí趟tàng銀行yínxíng我wǒ去qù了le一yí趟tàng银行yínxíng
I went to the bank once. (more natural for physical trip)

Easy Memory Trick

下 xià = short

趟 tàng = travel

遍 biàn = complete

次 cì = count