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  3. Comparing 常常 ("chang2chang2") and 往往 ("wang3wang3")

Comparing 常常 ("chang2chang2") and 往往 ("wang3wang3")

往往 wang3wang3

Grammar
HSK 4

Structure

Subj. + 不常 + Verb Subj. + 往往 + 不 / 没 + Verb

Translations

  • often
  • usually

Definition

常常表示动作或事件发生的频率高，强调经常性；往往表示在某种条件下通常会发生的情况，强调规律性或倾向性。

常常 indicates high frequency of an action or event, emphasizing regularity; 往往 indicates a situation that usually occurs under certain conditions, emphasizing regularity or tendency.

Usage

常常用于描述经常发生的动作，可用于过去、现在或将来；往往用于描述根据经验或规律通常会发生的情况，多用于已发生或习惯性的事情，常与条件或背景相关。

常常 is used to describe actions that happen often, applicable to past, present, or future; 往往 is used to describe situations that usually occur based on experience or rules, often used for past or habitual events, and often associated with conditions or background.

Examples

  • 1 他常常迟到，老师很不高兴。 (He is often late, and the teacher is very unhappy.)
  • 2 周末我常常去公园散步。 (I often go for a walk in the park on weekends.)
  • 3 在考试中，粗心的学生往往容易出错。 (In exams, careless students tend to make mistakes.)
  • 4 她常常帮助别人，所以人缘很好。 (She often helps others, so she is very popular.)
  • 5 冬天的时候，北方往往比南方冷得多。 (In winter, the north is often much colder than the south.)
  • 6 他常常熬夜工作，对身体不好。 (He often stays up late working, which is bad for his health.)
  • 7 往往在压力大的时候，人们才会发挥出潜力。 (Often, people only realize their potential under great pressure.)

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