The adverbs with the meaning "sometimes" and "rarely"
Let's consider the adverbs 有时候, 偶尔 and 很少.
The adverb 有时候
The adverb 有时候 
can be used either with the particle 的 — 有的时候, or shortened to 有时.
can be used either with the particle 的 — 有的时候, or shortened to 有时. Pay attention
有时候 can be placed either at the very beginning of the sentence before the subject, or immediately after the subject and before the predicate.
Examples
他有的时候脾气可真坏
Sometimes he can be very short-tempered
tā yǒu de shíhou píqì kě zhēn huài
有时候现实和幻想很难区分
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy
yǒushíhou xiànshí hé huànxiǎng hěn nán qūfēn
The adverb 偶尔
偶尔 means "sometimes", "once in a while". It is mostly used in affirmative sentences.
means "sometimes", "once in a while". It is mostly used in affirmative sentences.Examples
他偶尔给我打电话
He calls me sometimes
tā ǒu'ěr gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà
你应该偶尔帮忙做做家务
You should help with the housework once in a while
nǐ yīnggāi ǒu'ěr bāngmáng zuò zuò jiāwù
Pay attention
偶尔 and 有时候 are interchangeable, but 偶尔 emphasizes that the action is rare.
偶尔 can also be translated as "occasionally".
Examples
我偶尔跟他说了你的秘密
I occasionally tell him your secrets
wǒ ǒu'ěr gēn tā shuō le nǐ de mìmì
是，偶尔听说过
Yes, I occasionally hear about it
shì, ǒu'ěr tīngshuōguò
The adverb 很少
很少 is translated as "very little", "few", but before the predicate it means "rarely".
is translated as "very little", "few", but before the predicate it means "rarely".
Examples
她很少哭
She rarely cries
tā hěn shǎo kū
他以前很少见过这样的美景
He rarely sees such a beautiful view
tā yǐqián hěn shǎo jiànguò zhèyàng de měijǐng
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