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 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 时间一 次 电 ?Nǐ de shǒujī duō cháng shíjiān chōng yī cì diàn?How often do you charge your phone?
  • 多 长 时间 剪 头发 一 次duō cháng shíjiān jiǎn tóufa yī cì?
  • 多 长 时间一 次 头发 ?duō cháng shíjiān jiǎn yī cì tóufa?How often do you cut your hair?
  • 多 长 时间 刮 胡子 一 次
  • 多 长 时间一 次 胡子 ?
  • 多 长 时间 洗 车 一 次
  • 多 长 时间一 次 车 ?

Talking about Frequency in General

Structure

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

Examples

  • 一 周 给 妈妈 打 两 次 电话 。yī zhōu gěi māma dǎ liǎng cì diànhuà.I give mom a call twice a week.
  • 我们 公司 一 周一 次 会 。Wǒmen gōngsī yī zhōu kāi yī cì huì.Our company holds a meeting per week.
  • 两 个 月一 次 头发 。liǎng gè yuè Jiǎn yī cì tóufa.I cut my hair every two months.
  • 我 的 手机 两 天一 次 电 。Wǒ de shǒujī liǎng tiān chōng yī cì diàn.I charge my phone every two days.
  • 这 种 药 四 个 小时一 次Zhè zhǒng yào sì gè xiǎoshí chī yī cì.Take this medicine every four hours.
  • 你 应该 半 年一 次 体检 。Nǐ yīnggāi bàn nián zuò yī cì tǐjiǎn.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:

  • 多 长 时间一 次 手机 ?How often do you buy a new cell phone?
  • 多 长 时间一 次 班 ?How often do you work overtime?
  • 多 长 时间一 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.

  • 经常 换 手机 吗 ?Do you often buy a new cell phone?
  • 经常 加班 吗 ?Do you often work overtime?
  • 很 少 吃 牛油果 吧 ?You rarely eat avocado, right?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books