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Comparing 常常 ("chang2chang2") and 经常 ("jing1chang2")

常常 chángcháng

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

常常 / 经常 + Verb

Translations

  • often

Definition

常常和经常都是表示频率高的副词，意为“经常、时常”。常常更口语化，强调动作多次发生；经常更正式，强调惯常性。

Both 常常 and 经常 are adverbs indicating high frequency, meaning 'often' or 'frequently'. 常常 is more colloquial, emphasizing repeated occurrence; 经常 is more formal, emphasizing habitualness.

Usage

常常常用于口语，表示事情发生的次数多，间隔短；经常可用于口语和书面，表示一贯如此或习惯性行为。在否定句中常用“不常”代替“不常常”，而“不经常”更常见。

常常 is often used in spoken language to indicate frequent occurrence with short intervals; 经常 can be used in both spoken and written language to indicate consistent or habitual actions. In negative sentences, 不常 is often used instead of 不常常, while 不经常 is more common.

Examples

  • 1 他常常迟到，老师很不高兴。(He is often late, and the teacher is very unhappy.)
  • 2 我经常去图书馆学习。(I often go to the library to study.)
  • 3 她常常一个人发呆，不知道在想什么。(She often stares blankly alone, not knowing what she's thinking about.)
  • 4 我们经常开视频会议，方便沟通。(We often have video conferences for convenient communication.)
  • 5 他常常出差，很少在家。(He often goes on business trips and is seldom at home.)
  • 6 我经常忘记带钥匙，真麻烦。(I often forget to bring my keys, it's really troublesome.)

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