Comparing "bian" and "ci"

NEW VERSION!

To show that an action is done from beginning to end use 遍 (biàn)

Common Phrases

This is pretty straightforward, when you do something all the way from the beginning to the end use 遍 (biàn).

  • 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

Example Sentences

Again, only 遍 (biàn) can used to mean to do an action from beginning to end.

  • 我看过三遍这个电影。
  • 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。

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

Common Phrases

This is also pretty clear, to show the total number of times an action is done use 次 (cì).

  • 看过一 kàn guò yī watched one time
  • 听过三 ting guò sān listened three times
  • 去一 qù yī go one time
  • 去过多 qù guò went many times

Example Sentences

Again, to show the the total number of times an action is done use 次 (cì).

  • 我看过三次这个电影。
  • 我去过两次上海。
  • 我想去一次云南。
  • 我很喜欢红烧肉,我已经吃过很多次了。
  • 他 一 个 星期 去 两 次 健身房 。

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

Common Phrases

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

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


Example Sentences

Use 次 (cì) to reference the specific time or instance an action is done.

  • 今天 没有 时间 , 我们 下 次 学习 。
  • 这次 的 旅游 很 好玩。
  • 我 每次 上课 以前 都 会 准备 。











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.

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

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.

  • 看 过 很多 kàn guò hěn duō biàn watched many times from beginning to end
  • 看 过 很多 kàn guò hěn duō watched many times

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, both 遍 and 次 can be used interchangeably:

  • 我看过三遍这个电影。
  • 我看过三次这个电影。

Differences

Common Phrases

These phrases only work with 遍:

  • 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

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 遍 can be used:

  • 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。

Common Phrases

These phrases work only with 次:

  • 去一 qù yī go one time
  • 去过多 qù guò went many times

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 次 can be used:

  • 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。