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[[#|[[File:Expressing%20%22how%20often%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png]]]] = Expressing "how often" =

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[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points B1]
Similar to
Used for

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_frequency Expressing frequency]
Keywords

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%AF%8F 每], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%A4%9A%E9%95%BF%E6%97%B6%E9%97%B4 多长时间]
Translations

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/How_often how often], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Times times]

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Asking "how often" is one of those things that seems so simple in English, but relatively complicated in Chinese. The way to ask in Chinese is, literally, "how long of a time" (do something) "one time." So you'll need the phrases 多长时间 (duō cháng shíjiān) and 一次 (yī cì).

== Contents == [[[#|hide]]]

== Asking about Frequency == === Structure ===

Subj. + 多长时间 + Verb + 一次 (+ Obj.)

=== Examples ===

* 你的手机 ''多长时间'' 充电 ''一次'' ？Nǐ de shǒujī ''duō cháng shíjiān'' chōngdiàn ''yī cì''? * 你的手机 ''多长时间'' 充 ''一次'' 电？Nǐ de shǒujī ''duō cháng shíjiān'' chōng ''yī cì'' diàn?How often do you charge your phone? * 你 ''多长时间'' 剪头发 ''一次'' ？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' jiǎn tóufa ''yī cì''? * 你 ''多长时间'' 剪 ''一次'' 头发？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' jiǎn ''yī cì'' tóufa?How often do you cut your hair? * 你 ''多长时间'' 刮胡子 ''一次'' ？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' guā húzi ''yī cì''? * 你 ''多长时间'' 刮 ''一次'' 胡子？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' guā ''yī cì'' húzi?How often do you shave?

== Talking about Frequency in General == === Structure ===

Subj. + [Length of Time] + Verb + Times (+ Obj.)

=== Examples ===

* 我 ''一周'' 给妈妈打 ''两次'' 电话。Wǒ ''yī zhōu'' gěi māma dǎ ''liǎng cì'' diànhuà.I give mom a call twice a week. * 我们公司 ''一周'' 开 ''一次'' 会。Wǒmen gōngsī ''yī zhōu'' kāi ''yī cì'' huì.Our company holds one meeting per week. * 我 ''两个月'' 剪 ''一次'' 头发。Wǒ ''liǎng gè yuè'' jiǎn ''yī cì'' tóufa.I cut my hair every two months. * 我的手机 ''两天'' 充 ''一次'' 电。Wǒ de shǒujī ''liǎng tiān'' chōng ''yī cì'' diàn.I charge my phone every two days. * 这种药 ''四个小时'' 吃 ''一次'' 。Zhè zhǒng yào ''sì gè xiǎoshí'' chī ''yī cì''.Take this medicine every four hours. * 你应该 ''半年'' 做 ''一次'' 体检。Nǐ yīnggāi ''bàn nián'' zuò ''yī cì'' tǐjiǎn.You should have a physical examination every half of a year.

== When NOT to use this pattern == The thing about using the pattern above is that it's expected that the activity is done ''regularly'', as part of a ''habit''. If it's not an activity that's regularly engaged in, it's weird to use the pattern. Consider the following examples:

* 你 ''多长时间'' 换 ''一个'' 手机？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' huàn ''yī gè'' shǒujī?How often do you buy a new cell phone? * 你 ''多长时间'' 加 ''一次'' 班？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' jiā ''yī cì'' bān?How often do you work overtime? * 你 ''多长时间'' 吃 ''一次'' 牛油果？Nǐ ''duō cháng shíjiān'' chī ''yī cì'' niúyóuguǒ?How often do you eat avocado?

In these cases, the speaker is trying to get any idea of how often the other person does something, regardless of how regular or habitual it is. In this case, just use 经常 (or similar) to ask about it.

* 你 '''经常''' 换手机吗？Nǐ ''jīngcháng'' huàn shǒujī ma?Do you often buy a new cell phone? * 你 '''经常''' 加班吗？Nǐ ''jīngcháng'' jiābān ma?Do you often work late? * 你 '''很少''' 吃牛油果吧？Nǐ ''hěnshǎo'' chī niúyóuguǒ ba?You rarely eat avocado, right?

== See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Pronoun_%22mei%22_for_%22every%22 Pronoun "mei" for "every"] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22every_time%22_with_%22mei%22_and_%22dou%22 Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"] == Sources and further reading == === Books ===

[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories Category]: * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points B1 grammar points]

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