Both 常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) express similar concepts, though using them properly requires attention to some small details.

Both are used as adverbs expressing frequency

常常 and 经常 both express that the action happened many times, and that the time between each time it happens is very short.

Structure

常常 / 经常 + Verb

Examples

经常 can also be used to describe actions in the future

经常 can also be used in actions in the future. You cannot do this with 常常。

Structure

经常 + Verb

Examples

经常 is also used as an adjective

经常 is not only a time adverb, it can also be an adjective. When using it as an adjective, place it before the noun or use it in combination with 性 to make it into 经常性. You cannot do thing with 常常.

Structure

经常 + Noun

Examples

Negative form “不常”/“不经常”

The negative form of 经常 is 不经常. 常常 is usually 不常 in it's negative form.

Structure

不 + 经常

不 + 常

Examples

Examples of right and wrong sentences

Example dialog

See Also

Sources and further reading

Websites

The two types of verbal plurality: the case of jingchang (經 常) ‘usually’ and changchang (常常) ‘often’

Category:grammar comparison