Difference between revisions of "Comparing "bian" and "ci""

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NEW VERSION!
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Both 遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) are commonly used measure words that tell how many times an action is done. Both are used in formal and informal settings. The difference is that 遍 (biàn) means doing an action all the way from the beginning to the end, whereas 次 (cì) refers to the total number of times an action occurs.
 
 
Both 遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) are commonly used measure words that mean how many times an action is done. Both are used in formal and informal settings. Their difference is 遍 (biàn) means doing an action all the way from the beginning to the end, whereas 次 (cì) means the total number of times an action occurs.
 
  
 
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== To show that an action is done from beginning to end use 遍 (biàn) ==
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== When an action is done from beginning to end use 遍 (biàn) ==
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This is pretty straightforward. When you do something all the way from the beginning to the end use 遍 (biàn). This is common when talking about things like a sentence someone said, a story, or a song.
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
This is pretty straightforward, when you do something all the way from the beginning to the end use 遍 (biàn).
 
  
 
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=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
  
Again, only 遍 (biàn) can used to mean to do an action from beginning to end.
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Again, only 遍 (biàn) is used for actions from beginning to end.
  
 
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=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
This is also pretty clear, when you want to show the total number of times an action occurs use 次 (cì).
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When you want to show the total number of times an action occurs use 次 (cì). In this case you're not emphasizing full completion. In some cases (such as going somewhere), there's no "partial completion" anyway, so just use 次 (cì).
  
 
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=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
Again, to show the the total number of times an action occurs use 次 (cì).
 
  
 
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== To reference a specific time or the specific instance an action is occurs use 次 (cì) ==
 
== To reference a specific time or the specific instance an action is occurs use 次 (cì) ==
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To show this time, next time, every time, the first time, etc. use 次 (cì).
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
To show this time, next time, every time, the first time, etc. use 次 (cì).
 
  
 
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=== Example Sentences ===
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
Again, use 次 (cì) to reference the specific time or instance an action is done.
 
  
 
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* 这 是 我 <em>第一 次</em> 来 中国。
 
* 这 是 我 <em>第一 次</em> 来 中国。
 
* 我 <em>第一 次</em> 学 中文 是 2014 年。
 
* 我 <em>第一 次</em> 学 中文 是 2014 年。
</div>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OLD VERSION!!!!!
 
 
 
 
Both 遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) mean how many “times” an action is done.
 
 
'''Sometimes''' 遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) can be used interchangeably, each with slightly different meaning.
 
 
<table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
 
<tr>
 
<th style="width:24%"> </th>
 
<th style="width:33%">遍 (biàn)</th>
 
<th style="width:33%">次 (cì)</th>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Meaning</th><td>doing an action from beginning to end</td><td class="liju">number of times an action occurs</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Part of Speech</th><td>measure word</td><td class="liju"> measure word</td>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<th>Formality</th><td>formal and informal</td><td class="liju">formal and informal</td>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
 
The key difference between these words is 遍 means doing an action  '''all the way from the beginning to the end''', whereas 次 means  '''the total number of times''' an action occurs.
 
 
== Similarities ==
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
These phrases work with '''both''' 遍 and 次, although the meaning is slightly different.
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 看 过 很多 <em>遍</em> <span class="pinyin">kàn guò hěn duō <em> biàn </em></span><span class="trans">watched many times from beginning to end</span>
 
* 看 过 很多 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin">kàn guò hěn duō <em> cì </em></span><span class="trans">watched many times</span>
 
</div>
 
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
 
In the following sentences, '''both''' 遍 and 次 can be used interchangeably:
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我看过三遍这个电影。
 
* 我看过三次这个电影。
 
</div>
 
 
== Differences ==
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
These phrases '''only''' work with 遍:
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 再 说 一 <em>遍</em> <span class="pinyin">zài shuō yī <em> biàn </em></span><span class="trans">say again from beginning to end</span>
 
</div>
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 再 听 一 <em>遍</em> <span class="pinyin">zài tīng yī <em> biàn </em></span><span class="trans">listen again from beginning to end</span>
 
</div>
 
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
 
In the following sentences, '''only''' 遍 can be used:
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 你可以再说一遍吗?
 
* 我很喜欢这本书,我看了五遍。
 
* 这个歌我每天都听一遍。
 
* 请写十遍这个汉字。
 
* 我和你说了两遍,你不可能不知道。
 
</div>
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
These phrases work '''only''' with 次:
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 去一 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin">qù yī <em> cì </em></span><span class="trans">go one time</span>
 
</div>
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 去过多 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin">qù guò <em> cì </em></span><span class="trans">went many times</span>
 
</div>
 
 
=== Example Sentences ===
 
 
In the following sentences, '''only''' 次 can be used:
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
* 我去过三次上海。
 
* 我玩过一次这个游戏。
 
* 我想再去一次云南。
 
* 我们认识,我们在上海见过很多次。
 
* 我很喜欢红烧肉,我已经吃过很多次了。
 
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 03:35, 17 August 2021

Both 遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) are commonly used measure words that tell how many times an action is done. Both are used in formal and informal settings. The difference is that 遍 (biàn) means doing an action all the way from the beginning to the end, whereas 次 (cì) refers to the total number of times an action occurs.

遍 (biàn) 次 (cì)
Meaningdoing an action from beginning to endnumber of times an action occurs
Part of Speechmeasure word measure word
Formalityflexibleflexible

When an action is done from beginning to end use 遍 (biàn)

This is pretty straightforward. When you do something all the way from the beginning to the end use 遍 (biàn). This is common when talking about things like a sentence someone said, a story, or a song.

Common Phrases

  • 再 说 一 zài shuō yī biàn say again from beginning to end
  • 再 听 一 zài tīng yī biàn listen again from beginning to end
  • 再 读 一 zài dú yī biàn read again from beginning to end

Example Sentences

Again, only 遍 (biàn) is used for actions from beginning to end.

  • 你 可以 再 说 一 吗?
  • 我 看 过 两 这个 电影。
  • 我 很 喜欢 这 本 书,我 看 了 五
  • 这个 歌 我 每天 都 听 一
  • 请 写 十 这个 汉字。
  • 我 和 你 说 了 两 ,你 不 可能 不 知道。
  • 这个 电影 很 好看 , 我 想 再 看 一
  • 我 已经 听 了 三、四 , 还是 听 不 懂。
  • 我 跟 你 说 过 很多 了 , 你 为什么 不 听 呢 ?

To show the total number of times an action occurs use 次 (cì)

Common Phrases

When you want to show the total number of times an action occurs use 次 (cì). In this case you're not emphasizing full completion. In some cases (such as going somewhere), there's no "partial completion" anyway, so just use 次 (cì).

  • 看 过 一 kàn guò yī watched one time
  • 听 过 三 tīng guò sān listened three times
  • 去 过 几 qù guò jǐ went several times

Example Sentences

  • 我 去 过 两 上海。
  • 我 看过 三 这个 电影。
  • 我 很 喜欢 红烧肉,我 已经 吃 过 很多 了。
  • 他 一 个 星期 去 两 健身房 。
  • 我 玩 过 几 这个 游戏,这个 游戏 还 不错。

To reference a specific time or the specific instance an action is occurs use 次 (cì)

To show this time, next time, every time, the first time, etc. use 次 (cì).

Common Phrases

  • zhè this time
  • xià next time
  • měi every time
  • 第一 dì-yī the first time

Example Sentences

  • 今天 没有 时间 , 我们 下 次 学习 。
  • 这次 的 旅游 很 好玩。
  • 每 次 上课 以前 都 会 准备 。
  • 上 次 我 是 坐 飞机 回 美国 的。
  • 如果 你 下 次 再 迟到,老板 要 生气 了。
  • 我们 每 次 的 活动 都 很 有意思。
  • 这 是 我 第一 次 来 中国。
  • 第一 次 学 中文 是 2014 年。