Frequency Adverbs
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action happens. They help you describe routines, habits, and tendencies in clear and natural Mandarin.
Key Vocabulary
Learn common adverbs of frequency so you can pinpoint how often things occur. Each adverb gives a different shade of time and repetition.
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 经常 | jīngcháng | often |
| 有时 | yǒushí | sometimes |
| 总是 | zǒngshì | always |
| 偶尔 | ǒu'ěr | occasionally |
| 从不 | cóngbù | never |
| 一般 | yībān | generally / usually |
| 每天 | měitiān | every day |
| 时常 | shícháng | frequently |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🌞 每天 | měi tiān | every day |
| 🌙 每晚 | měi wǎn | every night |
| ⏰ 每次 | měi cì | every time |
| 🗓 每周 | měi zhōu | every week |
| 📅 每月 | měi yuè | every month |
| 🕒 经常 | jīng cháng | often |
| 🧑🤝🧑 常常 | cháng cháng | frequently |
| 🔄 有时 | yǒu shí | sometimes |
| ⚠️ 偶尔 | ǒu ěr | occasionally |
| 🚫 很少 | hěn shǎo | rarely |
| ❌ 从不 | cóng bù | never |
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Placement
Frequency adverbs usually go before the main verb, or after 了 if you emphasize a completed action. This positioning keeps the sentence natural and clear.
Usage
Use adverbs of frequency to describe habitual actions or tendencies. For single occurrences, adverbs like yǒushí 有时 or time phrases give better nuance.
Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🌞 我每天早上七点起床。 | Wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng. | I get up at 7 every morning. |
| ☕ 我经常喝咖啡开始一天。 | Wǒ jīngcháng hē kāfēi kāishǐ yītiān. | I often drink coffee to start the day. |
| 📧 我每天检查邮箱。 | Wǒ měi tiān jiǎnchá yóuxiāng. | I check my email every day. |
| 🏃♂️ 我每周三次去跑步。 | Wǒ měi zhōu sān cì qù pǎobù. | I go running three times a week. |
| 📚 我常常晚上学习新词。 | Wǒ chángcháng wǎnshàng xuéxí xīn cí. | I often study new words at night. |
| 🧹 我偶尔周末打扫房间。 | Wǒ ǒu'ěr zhōumò dǎsǎo fángjiān. | I occasionally clean my room on weekends. |
| 🍿 我很少工作后看电视。 | Wǒ hěn shǎo gōngzuò hòu kàn diànshì. | I rarely watch TV after work. |
| 🛏️ 我从不工作时躺床上。 | Wǒ cóng bù gōngzuò shí tǎng chuáng shàng. | I never lie in bed while working. |
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Summary
Adverbs of frequency show how often actions happen. Learn key vocabulary and place adverbs before the verb for natural sentences. Practice describing your routines aloud to make the expressions second nature.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025