Frequency adverbs tell us how often an action happens and shape the timing of events in speech and writing. This guide covers common Mandarin adverbs of frequency with clear examples.
常用副词
Below are some of the most common adverbs that express frequency, ranging from habitual to rare occurrences. Each adverb comes with a sample sentence for context.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️每天 | měi tiān | every day | |
| 🌅早上 | zǎo shang | in the morning | |
| 🕒常常 | cháng cháng | often | |
| 🔄有时 | yǒu shí | sometimes | |
| 🌙晚上 | wǎn shang | in the evening | |
| ❌很少 | hěn shǎo | rarely | |
| 🛌通常 | tōng cháng | usually | |
| ⏰现在 | xiàn zài | now | |
| ✅总是 | zǒng shì | always | |
| 💤偶尔 | ǒu ěr | occasionally |
I often go to that coffee shop.
位置
Frequency adverbs typically appear before the main verb in a sentence, or immediately after the subject for emphasis. This positioning helps keep the meaning clear and natural.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌐前面 | qián miàn | in front | |
| 🏠后面 | hòu miàn | behind | |
| 🗂️中间 | zhōng jiān | in the middle | |
| 📍附近 | fù jìn | nearby | |
| 🛣️上面 | shàng miàn | above | |
| 🕳️下面 | xià miàn | below | |
| 🧳里面 | lǐ miàn | inside | |
| 🧴外面 | wài miàn | outside | |
| 🚪旁边 | páng biān | beside | |
| 🛋️对面 | duì miàn | opposite |
例句
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕️ 我通常早上七点喝咖啡。 | Wǒ tōng cháng zǎo shang qī diǎn hē kā fēi. | I usually drink coffee at 7 in the morning. | |
| 🚌 她常常坐公交去学校。 | Tā cháng cháng zuò gōng jiāo qù xué xiào. | She often takes the bus to school. | |
| 📚 我有时晚上看书到很晚。 | Wǒ yǒu shí wǎn shang kàn shū dào hěn wǎn. | I sometimes read books late at night. | |
| 🍎 他们总是带午饭去公园。 | Tā men zǒng shì dài wǔ fàn qù gōng yuán. | They always bring lunch to the park. | |
| 🏃 我很少星期天去健身房。 | Wǒ hěn shǎo xīng qī tiān qù jiàn shēn fáng. | I rarely go to the gym on Sundays. |
习语
Some frequency adverbs are used in set expressions or collocations that sound more native when learned as chunks. These idiomatic uses can add flavor to speech.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⏳ 时不我待 | shí bù wǒ dài | Time waits for no one | |
| 🐢 事不过三 | shì bú guò sān | Don’t make the same mistake more than twice | |
| 🔥 一日千里 | yī rì qiān lǐ | Rapid progress in a single day | |
| 🧭 朝令夕改 | zhāo lìng xī gǎi | Change decisions frequently | |
| 🕸️ 日积月累 | rì jī yuè lěi | Accumulate over time |
变化
Adverbs of frequency are generally fixed in form, but some can be modified by degree words like 非常 (fēi cháng) or 差不多 (chà bù duō) to fine-tune meaning.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌞 早起 | zǎo qǐ | get up early | |
| 🌜 晚睡 | wǎn shuì | stay up late | |
| 🕗 推迟 | tuī chí | postpone | |
| ⏬ 变少 | biàn shǎo | decrease | |
| ⏫ 增加 | zēng jiā | increase | |
| 🔄 交替 | jiāo tì | alternate | |
| 🧑💻 加班 | jiā bān | work overtime | |
| ⏰ 准时 | zhǔn shí | on time | |
| 💤 休息 | xiū xí | rest | |
| 📅 计划 | jì huà | plan |
总结
Frequency adverbs are key for describing routines and habits. Learn the common ones, pay attention to placement, and practice with example sentences to internalize their use.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025