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 the questions "how often?"

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？

Making a Statement about Frequency

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.
你真有钱！一年 换 一个 手机。You are so rich! You buy a new cell phone every 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?

[Category:**URGENT**]]

Expressing "how often"

Contents

Asking the questions "how often?"

Structure

Examples

Making a Statement about Frequency

Structure

Examples

When NOT to use this pattern