ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-130.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

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 ===

<div class="jiegou">
常常 / 经常 + Verb
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 奶奶 去世 以前，我 <em>常常</em> 去 看 她。<span class="trans">Before Grandma died, I often went to see her.</span>
* 以前， 我 <em>经常</em> 不 吃 早 饭。<span class="trans">Before, I often didn't eat breakfast.</span>
</div>

== 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 ===
 

<div class="jiegou">
经常 + Verb
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 你 以后 要 <em>经常</em> 做 运动。<span class="trans">Later, you are going to exercise often.</span>
* 这个项目 做完 以后， 我 会 <em>经常</em> 陪 你。<span class="trans">Once this project is done, then I can go with you more often.</span>
</div>

== 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 ===

<div class="jiegou">
经常 + Noun
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 她 忘记 带 钥匙 是 <em>经常</em> 的 事情。<span class="trans">Her forgetting to bring a key is a frequent occurrence.</span>
* 接待 客户 对 我们 来 说 是<em>经常</em> 性 工作。<span class="trans">Greeting customers is a common job for us.</span>
</div>

== 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 ===

<div class="jiegou">
不 + 经常
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
不 + 常
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>不 经常</em> 看 电视。<span class="trans">I don't watch television very often.</span>
* 他 <em>不 常</em> 来 我 家。<span class="trans">He doesn't come to my house very often.</span>
* 我 <em>不 常</em> 在家 做饭。<span class="trans">I don't cook very often at home.</span>
</div>

== Examples of right and wrong sentences==

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">你 以后 要 <em>常常</em> 做 运动。<span class="expl">"常常" can't be used in the future.</span></li> 
<li class="o">你 以后 要 <em>经常</em> 做 运动。<span class="trans">Later, you are going to exercise often.</span></li> 
<li class="x">这 是 <em>常常</em> 的 事。<span class="expl">"常常" can not be an adjective.</span></li> 
<li class="o">这 是 <em>经常</em> 的 事。<span class="trans">This is a common event.</span></li> 
</ul>
</div>

== Example dialog ==

<div class="liju">
* A: 你 以前<em>经常</em> 不 吃 早 饭 吗？<span class="trans">You didn't often eat breakfast before?</span>
* B: 对，我 <em>常常</em> 睡 到 中午 十二点。<span class="trans">Right, I often slept until noon.</span>
* A: 不 <em>经常</em> 吃 早 饭 不 是 个 好 习惯。<span class="trans">Not eating breakfast often isn't a good habit.</span>
* B: 我 知道。我 决定 以后 <em>经常</em> 吃 早饭。<span class="trans">I know. I decided I'm going to eat breakfast often from now on.</span>
</div>

== See Also ==

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Websites ===

[http://www.academia.edu/2280709/2012_-_The_two_types_of_verbal_plurality_the_case_of_jingchang_usually_and_changchang_often The two types of verbal plurality: the case of jingchang (經 常) ‘usually’ and changchang (常常) ‘often’]


[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|常常|B2|常常 vs 经常|我 不 <em>常常</em>  运动 ， 我 以后 要<em>经常</em> 运动 。|grammar point|ASGE8FLP}}
{{Rel char|经常}}
{{Used for|Expressing frequency}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Used for|Referring to habitual actions}}
{{Similar|Comparing "pingshi" and "pingchang"}}
{{Comparison|Time Words}}