Difference between revisions of "Comparing "changchang" and "jingchang""

 
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In the following sentences, it is fine to use either 常常 or 经常.
 
In the following sentences, it is fine to use either 常常 or 经常.
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=== Example Sentences ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>经常</em> 坐 地铁 去 上班 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> zuò dìtiě shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I often take the metro to work.</span>
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* 我 <em>经常</em> 忘 带 钥匙 就 出门 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> wàng dài yàoshi jiù chūmén le.</span><span class="trans">I often forget my keys and go out.</span>
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* 我 <em>常常</em> 一个人 去 旅行。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chángcháng</em> yīgèrén lǚxíng.</span><span class="trans">I have often wanted to travel alone.</span>
 
* 同事 对 我 很 好 ,<em>经常</em> 帮 我 。<span class="pinyin">Tóngshì duì wǒ hěn hǎo, <em>jīngcháng</em> bāng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">My colleagues are very nice to me and help me a lot.</span>
 
* 同事 对 我 很 好 ,<em>经常</em> 帮 我 。<span class="pinyin">Tóngshì duì wǒ hěn hǎo, <em>jīngcháng</em> bāng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">My colleagues are very nice to me and help me a lot.</span>
 
* 这个 孩子 很 不 听话 <em>经常</em> 发 脾气。<span class="pinyin">Zhège háizi hěn bù tīnghuà <em>jīngcháng</em> fā píqì.</span><span class="trans">This child is very disobedient and often throws tantrums.</span>
 
* 这个 孩子 很 不 听话 <em>经常</em> 发 脾气。<span class="pinyin">Zhège háizi hěn bù tīnghuà <em>jīngcháng</em> fā píqì.</span><span class="trans">This child is very disobedient and often throws tantrums.</span>
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* 我 <em>经常</em> 早上 六 点 起床 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> zǎoshang liù diǎn qǐchuáng.</span><span class="trans">I often get up at 6am.</span>
 
* 我 <em>经常</em> 早上 六 点 起床 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> zǎoshang liù diǎn qǐchuáng.</span><span class="trans">I often get up at 6am.</span>
 
* 周末 我 <em>经常</em> 去 那家 饭店 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> qù nàjiā fàndiàn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I often go to that restaurant for dinner on weekends.</span>
 
* 周末 我 <em>经常</em> 去 那家 饭店 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> qù nàjiā fàndiàn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I often go to that restaurant for dinner on weekends.</span>
* 我 <em>常常</em> 加班 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>chángcháng</em> jiābān.</span><span class="trans">I work overtime a lot.</span>
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* 这个 学生 不 爱 学习,他 <em>经常</em> 不 做 作业。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng bù ài xuéxí, tā <em>jīngcháng</em> bù zuò zuòyè.</span><span class="trans">This student does not like to study and he often does not do his homework.</span>
* 我 <em>经常</em> 去 出差 。<span class="pinyin"><em>jīngcháng</em> qù chūchāi.</span><span class="trans">I often go on business trips.</span>
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* 我 <em>经常</em> 用 微信 和 朋友 视频。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> yòng Wēixìn hé péngyou shìpín.</span><span class="trans">I often use WeChat to video chat with my friends.</span>
* 我 <em>经常</em> 用 微信 和 朋友 视频。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jīngcháng</em> yòng Wēixìn hé péngyou shìpín.</span><span class="trans">I often use WeChat to video with my friends.</span>
 
 
* 周末 我 <em>常常</em> 跟 朋友 聊天 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ<em>chángcháng</em> gēn péngyou liáotiān.</span><span class="trans">I often chat with my friends on weekends.</span>
 
* 周末 我 <em>常常</em> 跟 朋友 聊天 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ<em>chángcháng</em> gēn péngyou liáotiān.</span><span class="trans">I often chat with my friends on weekends.</span>
* 飞机 <em>经常</em> 晚点 。<span class="pinyin">Fēijī <em>jīngcháng</em> wǎndiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Flights are often late.</span>
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* <em>经常</em> 说谎,所以 没有 人 相信 他 的 话。<span class="pinyin"><em>jīngcháng</em> shuōhuǎng, suǒyǐ méiyǒu rén xiāngxìn tā de huà.</span><span class="trans">He lies so often that no one believes what he says.</span>
 
* 我 和 女朋友 <em>常常</em> 去 公园 散步 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé nǚpéngyou <em>chángcháng</em> qù gōngyuán sànbù.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend and I often go for walks in the park.</span>
 
* 我 和 女朋友 <em>常常</em> 去 公园 散步 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé nǚpéngyou <em>chángcháng</em> qù gōngyuán sànbù.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend and I often go for walks in the park.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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This is something that's a bit special about both words: when you add 不 to make them negative, you can also drop the first character, resulting in 不常 (bù cháng) for either one.
 
This is something that's a bit special about both words: when you add 不 to make them negative, you can also drop the first character, resulting in 不常 (bù cháng) for either one.
 
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=== Example Sentences ===
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我 <em>不常</em> 坐 地铁 去 上班 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bùcháng</em> zuò dìtiě qù shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I don't often take the metro to work.</span>
 
* 我 <em>不常</em> 坐 地铁 去 上班 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bùcháng</em> zuò dìtiě qù shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I don't often take the metro to work.</span>
* 我 喜欢 自己 做饭 ,所以 我 <em>不常</em> 叫 外卖 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ zuòfàn, suǒyǐ wǒ <em>bùcháng</em> jiào wàimài.</span><span class="trans">I like to cook for myself, so I don't often order takeout.</span>
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* 我 喜欢 自己 做饭 ,所以 我 <em>不常</em> 叫 外卖 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ zuòfàn, suǒyǐ wǒ <em>bùcháng</em> jiào wàimài.</span><span class="trans">I like to cook for myself, so I don't often have food delivered.</span>
 
* 我们 的 销售 经理 经常 出差 ,我们 在 公司 <em>不常</em> 看到 他 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de xiāoshòu jīnglǐ jīngcháng chūchāi, wǒmen zài gōngsī <em>bùcháng</em> kàn dào tā.</span><span class="trans">Our sales manager travels a lot and we don't see him at work very often.</span>
 
* 我们 的 销售 经理 经常 出差 ,我们 在 公司 <em>不常</em> 看到 他 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de xiāoshòu jīnglǐ jīngcháng chūchāi, wǒmen zài gōngsī <em>bùcháng</em> kàn dào tā.</span><span class="trans">Our sales manager travels a lot and we don't see him at work very often.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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 +
=== AllSet Learning Wikis ===
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* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22changchang%22_and_%22jingchang%22 Comparing "changchang" and "jingchang"] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
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* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22changchang%22_and_%22wangwang%22 Comparing "changchang" and "wangwang"] (Chinese Grammar Wiki)
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===

Latest revision as of 03:21, 9 May 2022

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, although 经常 (jīngcháng) is more common in spoken Chinese.











B1HSK3ASV4567
常常 (chángcháng) 经常 (jīngcháng)
Meaning often, frequently often, frequently
Part of Speech adverb adverb (mostly)
Formality flexible flexible

常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) are generally interchangeable

In the following sentences, it is fine to use either 常常 or 经常.

Example Sentences

  • 经常 忘 带 钥匙 就 出门 了 。jīngcháng wàng dài yàoshi jiù chūmén le.I often forget my keys and go out.
  • 常常 一个人 去 旅行。chángcháng yīgèrén qù lǚxíng.I have often wanted to travel alone.
  • 同事 对 我 很 好 ,经常 帮 我 。Tóngshì duì wǒ hěn hǎo, jīngcháng bāng wǒ.My colleagues are very nice to me and help me a lot.
  • 这个 孩子 很 不 听话 经常 发 脾气。Zhège háizi hěn bù tīnghuà jīngcháng fā píqì.This child is very disobedient and often throws tantrums.
  • 我 最近 常常 练习 说 中文 。Wǒ zuìjìn chángcháng liànxí shuō Zhōngwén.I have been practising speaking Chinese a lot recently.
  • 经常 早上 六 点 起床 。jīngcháng zǎoshang liù diǎn qǐchuáng.I often get up at 6am.
  • 周末 我 经常 去 那家 饭店 吃饭。Zhōumò wǒ jīngcháng qù nàjiā fàndiàn chīfàn.I often go to that restaurant for dinner on weekends.
  • 这个 学生 不 爱 学习,他 经常 不 做 作业。Zhège xuéshēng bù ài xuéxí, tā jīngcháng bù zuò zuòyè.This student does not like to study and he often does not do his homework.
  • 经常 用 微信 和 朋友 视频。jīngcháng yòng Wēixìn hé péngyou shìpín.I often use WeChat to video chat with my friends.
  • 周末 我 常常 跟 朋友 聊天 。Zhōumò wǒchángcháng gēn péngyou liáotiān.I often chat with my friends on weekends.
  • 经常 说谎,所以 没有 人 相信 他 的 话。jīngcháng shuōhuǎng, suǒyǐ méiyǒu rén xiāngxìn tā de huà.He lies so often that no one believes what he says.
  • 我 和 女朋友 常常 去 公园 散步 。Wǒ hé nǚpéngyou chángcháng qù gōngyuán sànbù.My girlfriend and I often go for walks in the park.

You can negate both 常常 (chángcháng) and 经常 (jīngcháng) with 不常 (bù cháng)

This is something that's a bit special about both words: when you add 不 to make them negative, you can also drop the first character, resulting in 不常 (bù cháng) for either one.

Example Sentences

  • 不常 坐 地铁 去 上班 。bùcháng zuò dìtiě qù shàngbān.I don't often take the metro to work.
  • 我 喜欢 自己 做饭 ,所以 我 不常 叫 外卖 。Wǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ zuòfàn, suǒyǐ wǒ bùcháng jiào wàimài.I like to cook for myself, so I don't often have food delivered.
  • 我们 的 销售 经理 经常 出差 ,我们 在 公司 不常 看到 他 。Wǒmen de xiāoshòu jīnglǐ jīngcháng chūchāi, wǒmen zài gōngsī bùcháng kàn dào tā.Our sales manager travels a lot and we don't see him at work very often.

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”

Sources and further reading

AllSet Learning Wikis

Books

《现代汉语八百词》

Websites