Difference between revisions of "Expressing "how often""
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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). | 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). | ||
| − | == Asking | + | == Asking about Frequency in a Question == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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| − | <li class="x">你 的 手机 <em>多 长 时间</em> 充电 <em>一 次</em>？</li> | + | <li class="x">你 的 手机 <em>多 长 时间</em> 充电 <em>一 次</em> ？</li> |
| − | <li class="o">你 的 手机 <em>多 长 时间</em> 充电<em>一 次</em>？</li> | + | <li class="o">你 的 手机 <em>多 长 时间</em> 充电<em>一 次</em> ？</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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| − | == | + | == Asking about Frequency in a Statement == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
Revision as of 08:51, 13 November 2017
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
Asking about Frequency in a Question
Structure
Subj. + 多长时间 + Verb + 一次 (+ Obj.)
Examples
- 你 的 手机 多 长 时间 充电 一 次 ？
- 你 的 手机 多 长 时间 充电一 次 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 剪 头发 一 次 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 剪 一 次 头发 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 刮 胡子 一 次 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 刮 一 次 胡子 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 洗 车 一 次 ？
- 你 多 长 时间 洗 一 次 车 ？
Asking about Frequency in a Statement
Structure
Subj. + [Length of Time] + Verb + Times (+ Obj.)
Examples
- 我 一周 给 妈妈 打 两 次 电话 。I give mom a call twice a week.
- 我们 公司 一 周 开 一 次 会 。Our company holds a meeting per week.
- 我 两 个 月 剪 一 次 头发 。I cut my hair every two months.
- 我 的 手机 两 天 充 一 次 电 。I charge my phone every two days.
- 这 种 药 四 个 小时 吃 一 次 。Take this medicine every four hours.
- 你 应该 半 年 体检 一 次 。You should take the physical examination every half 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 次 手机 ？How often do you buy a new cell phone?
- 你 多 长 时间 加 一 次 班 ？How often do you work overtime?
- 你 多 长 时间 吃 一 次 牛油果 ？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 ？Do you often buy a new cell phone?
- 你 经常 加班 吗 ？Do you often work overtime?
- 你 很 少 吃 牛油果 吧 ？You rarely eat avocado, right?
