Adverbs of frequency in Chinese
Let's look at adverbs of frequency with a similar meaning: 常常, 常, 经常, 往往 and 时常.
The adverb 常常
常常 
expresses frequent repetition of an action.
In a sentence, it should come before a predicate or before anт adverbial modifier of time.
expresses frequent repetition of an action.
In a sentence, it should come before a predicate or before anт adverbial modifier of time.
Pay attention
We cannot use 常常 when speaking about the future.
Examples
他常常去跑步
He often goes running
tā chángcháng qù pǎobù
事情常常那么简单
Things are often not that simple
shìqíng chángcháng méi nàme jiǎndān
Pay attention
We also cannot use 常常 in negation or with adverbs of degree. For example, it’s incorrect to say 不常常 or 很常常.
The adverb 常
This adverb 常 is used less frequently than 常常.
In a sentence it should come before a predicate which is expressed by a verb. For example:
说
看
见
is used less frequently than 常常.
In a sentence it should come before a predicate which is expressed by a verb. For example:
说
看
见 Pay attention
We can put another adverb of degree before 常. For example, 很 .
.Examples
他很常说我是个好人
He often says that I’m a good person
tā hěn cháng shuō wǒ shì ge hǎorén
她常看的那本书是《战争和和平》
The book she always reads is “War and Peace”
tā cháng kàn de nà běn shū shì “zhànzhēng hé hépíng”
We also can use 常 with the negative particle 不 . In which case it means “not often”.
. In which case it means “not often”.Examples
这种事情真的是不常见的
This kind of thing is really unusual
zhè zhǒng shìqíng zhēnde shì bù cháng jiàn de
Pay attention
We cannot use 常 when speaking about the future.
The adverb 经常
经常 also expresses frequent repetition of an action.
In a sentence, it should come before either a predicate or an adverbial modifier of time.
also expresses frequent repetition of an action.
In a sentence, it should come before either a predicate or an adverbial modifier of time. Pay attention
In comparison with 常 and 常常, the adverb 经常 has a more formal tone.
Examples
我经常去老家看父母
I often visit my parents in my hometown
wǒ jīngcháng qù lǎojiā kàn fùmǔ
这种的问题是经常出现的
This kind of problem is quite frequent
zhè zhǒng de wèntí shì jīngcháng chūxiàn de
We can use 经常 when speaking about the future.
Examples
你搬家以后我们要经常联系
We’ll need to keep in touch regularly when you move away
nǐ bānjiā yǐhòu wǒmen yào jīngcháng liánxì
Pay attention
We cannot use 经常 in negation or with adverbs of degree.
经常 as an adjective
Also, 经常 can be an adjective with the meaning “usual”, “constant”. In this case it must be followed by the particle 的 .
.Examples
这是经常的问题题
This is a common problem
zhè shì jīngcháng de wèntí
The adverb 往往
The adverb 往往 indicates that an action frequently happens under specific or regularly timed intervals. It is usually used when referring to some observation, research, or statistical result.
In a sentence, it should come before a predicate or before an adverbial modifier of time.
indicates that an action frequently happens under specific or regularly timed intervals. It is usually used when referring to some observation, research, or statistical result.
In a sentence, it should come before a predicate or before an adverbial modifier of time.Examples
这种病往往冬天的时候出现
This disease often appears in the winter
zhè zhǒng bìng wǎngwǎng dōngtiān de shíhòu chūxiàn
男人到了40年体重往往会增加
Men tend to gain weight by the time they reach 40 years
nánrén dào le sìshí nián tǐzhòng wǎngwǎng huì zēngjiā
人们往往对自己不理解的东西感到恐惧
People are often afraid of things which they don't understand
rénmen wǎngwǎng duì zìjǐ bù lǐjiě de dōngxi gǎndào kǒngjù
Pay attention
We cannot use 往往 in negation or with adverbs of degree.
The adverb 时常
The adverb 时常 should come before a predicate that is expressed by a verb or verb phrase. This adverb is used very rarely.
should come before a predicate that is expressed by a verb or verb phrase. This adverb is used very rarely.
Pay attention
A verb phrase is a combination of a verb and an auxiliary word. The auxiliary word can be either an auxiliary verb or an object.
Examples
她生病的时候她的女儿们时常去探望她
Her daughters used to visit her when she was sick
tā shēngbìng de shíhou tā de nǚ'érmen shícháng qù tànwàng tā
人们时常到这地方来看日出
People often come here to see the sunrise
rénmen shícháng dào zhè dìfang lái kàn rìchū
长大以后我时常怀念我的故乡
After I grew up, I started to miss my homeland often
zhǎngdà yǐhòu wǒ shícháng huáiniàn wǒ de gùxiāng
Pay attention
We cannot use 时常 in negation or with adverbs of degree.