Comparing "changchang" and "jingchang"
NEW Version
Both 常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) are used to mean often or frequently. In most circumstances, 常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) can be used interchangeably. Both can be used in formal and informal settings. The difference between these two is 常常 (chángcháng) emphasizes usually, whereas 经常 (jīngcháng) emphasizes habitually or routinely.
| 常常 (chángcháng) | 经常 (jīngcháng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | emphasizes usually | emphasizes habitually or routinely |
| Part of Speech | adverb | adverb (mostly) |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
To emphasize that something usually happens use 常常 (chángcháng)
Common Phrases
Again, to emphasize something usually happens use 常常 (chángcháng).
- 常常 生病 usually get sick
- 常常 锻炼身体 usually workout
- 常常 看电视 usually watch TV
- 常常 玩电脑 usually play on the computer
Example Sentences
In the following sentences, it is best to use 常常
- 我 常常 加班 。
- 我 常常 去 出差 。
- 我 常常 用 微信 和 朋友 视频。
- 周末 我 常常 跟 朋友 聊天 。
- 飞机 常常 晚点 。
- 我 和 女朋友 常常 去 公园 散步 。
To emphasize that something habitually or routinely happens use 经常 (jīngcháng)
Common Phrases
Again, to emphasize something habitually or routinely happens use 经常 (jīngcháng).
- 经常 生病 habitually get sick
- 经常 锻炼身体 routinely workout
- 经常 看电视 routinely watch TV
- 经常 玩电脑 habitually play on the computer
Example Sentences
In the following sentences, it is best to use 经常（habitually or routinely repeated actions):
- 我 经常 坐 地铁 去 上班 。
- 同事 对 我 很 好 ， 经常 帮 我 。
- 我 经常 去 这 家 餐厅 吃饭 。
- 我 最近 经常 练习 说 中文 。
- 我 不 经常 加班 。
- 上海 堵车 是 经常 的 事情。
Advanced Differences
经常 is an adjective as well as an adverb, therefore it can be used differently than 常常. For more details on the use of 经常 and a grammar-based comparison of 常常 and 经常 please click here to visit our Grammar Wiki page: Grammar Wiki comparing “changchang” and “jingchang”
OLD vefusion
Both 常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) mean "often" or “frequently”.
In most circumstances 常常 and 经常 can be used interchangeably.
| 常常 (chángcháng) | 经常 (jīngcháng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | usually | habitually or routinely |
| Part of Speech | adverb | adverb and adjective |
| Formality | formal and informal | formal and informal |
The key difference between these words is 常常 emphasizes usually (more often than not), whereas 经常 emphasizes habitually or routinely (a repeated patterned action).
Similarities
Common Phrases
These phrases work with both 常常 and 经常, although the meaning is slightly different.
～生病
- 常常 生病 usually get sick
- 经常 生病 habitually get sick
～锻炼身体
- 常常 锻炼身体 usually workout
- 经常 锻炼身体 routinely workout
～看电视
- 常常 看电视 usually watch TV
- 经常 看电视 routinely watch TV
～玩电脑
- 常常 玩电脑 usually play on the computer
- 经常 玩电脑 habitually play on the computer
Example Sentences
In the following sentences, both 常常 and 经常 can be used interchangeably.
- Using 常常 the sentences emphasize “usually”, using 经常 the sentences emphasize “routinely” or “habitually”.
Differences
Example Sentences
In the following sentences, it is best to use 经常（habitually or routinely repeated actions):
- 我 经常 坐 地铁 去 上班 。
- 同事 对 我 很 好 ， 经常 帮 我 。
- 我 经常 去 这 家 餐厅 吃饭 。
- 我 最近 经常 练习 说 中文 。
- 我 不 经常 加班 。
- 上海 堵车 是 经常 的 事情。
Example Sentences
In the following sentences, it is best to use 常常
- 我 常常 加班 。
- 我 常常 去 出差 。
- 我 常常 用 微信 和 朋友 视频。
- 周末 我 常常 跟 朋友 聊天 。
- 飞机 常常 晚点 。
- 我 和 女朋友 常常 去 公园 散步 。
Advanced Differences
经常 is an adjective as well as an adverb, therefore it can be used differently than 常常. For more details on the use of 经常 and a grammar-based comparison of 常常 and 经常 please click here to visit our Grammar Wiki page: Grammar Wiki comparing “changchang” and “jingchang”
