Comparing "changchang" and "jingchang"

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

• 奶奶 去世 以前，我 常常 去 看 她。Before Grandma died, I often went to see her.
• 以前， 我 经常 不 吃 早 饭。Before, I often didn't eat breakfast.

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

• 你 以后 要 经常 做 运动。Later, you are going to exercise often.
• 这个项目 做完 以后， 我 会 经常 陪 你。Once this project is done, then I can go with you more often.

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 using it in combination with 性 to make it into 经常性. You cannot do thing with 常常.

Structure

经常 + Noun

Examples

• 她 忘记 带 钥匙 是 经常 的 事情。Her forgetting to bring a key is a frequent occurrence.
• 接待 客户 对 我们 来 说 是经常 性 工作。Greeting customers is a common job.

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

• 我 不经常 看 电视。I don't watch television very often.
• 他 不常 来 我 家。He doesn't come to my house very often.

Examples of right and wrong sentences

• 你 以后 要 常常 做 运动。"常常" can't be used in the future.
• 你 以后 要 经常 做 运动。Later, you are going to exercise often.
• 这 是 常常 的 事。"常常" can not be an adjective.
• 这 是 经常 的 事。This is a common event.
• 我 知道 他 不常常 一个人 喝酒。The abbreviation should be "不常".
• 我 知道 他 不常 一个人 喝酒。I know he doesn't often drink alone.

Example dialog

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

Sources and further reading

Websites

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