Comparing "bian" and "ci"

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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.

读过多~

  • 读过多 dú guò duō biàn read many times from beginning to end
  • 读过多 dú guò duō read many times

看过多~

  • 看过多 kàn guò duō biàn watched many times from beginning to end
  • 看过多 kàn guò duō watched many times

Example Sentences

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

Differences

Common Phrases

These phrases only work with 遍:

  • 再说一 zài shuō yī biàn say again from beginning to end
  • 再读一 zài dú yī biàn read again from beginning to end
  • 再唱一 zài chàng yī biàn sing again from beginning to end

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 遍 can be used:

Common Phrases

These phrases work only with 次:

  • 去一 qù yī go one time
  • 去过多 qù guò went many times
  • 参观了一 cānguān le yī visited one time

Example Sentences

In the following sentences, only 次 can be used: