次 vs 遍: what is the difference?
次 counts how many times something happens, and 遍 counts a full run from beginning to end. So you say 我去过两次北京 but 我把这篇课文读了一遍。
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 次 | cì | Counts how many times something happens, whether or not it is done from start to finish. | Verb + number + 次 |
| 遍 | biàn | Counts how many times something is done from start to finish. | Verb + number + 遍 |
次 (cì)
Counts how many times something happens, whether or not it is done from start to finish.
Structure: Verb + number + 次
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 她一天刷两次牙。 | Tā yì tiān shuā liǎng cì yá. | She brushes her teeth twice a day. |
| 这家店我来过很多次。 | Zhè jiā diàn wǒ lái guò hěn duō cì. | I have been to this shop many times. |
| 我们一个月开一次会。 | Wǒ men yí gè yuè kāi yí cì huì. | We have a meeting once a month. |
Not: 我去过北京一遍。 遍 counts a full run through something, and a trip is not that. Use 次: 我去过一次北京。
遍 (biàn)
Counts how many times something is done from start to finish.
Structure: Verb + number + 遍
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请再说一遍。 | Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn. | Please say it once more. |
| 这首歌我听了五遍。 | Zhè shǒu gē wǒ tīng le wǔ biàn. | I listened to this song five times through. |
| 老师让我们把课文读两遍。 | Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men bǎ kè wén dú liǎng biàn. | The teacher told us to read the text twice. |
Not: 我去过北京三遍。 遍 means a whole run from start to end; for visits use 次.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Classifiers: 层、封、件、条、位 and Action Measures (HSK 2) and Duration & Frequency Complements (HSK 3) and Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 (HSK 4) and Frequency complement: V+次/遍/趟 (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 刚 vs 刚才 · 更 vs 还 · 还 vs 已经 · 看见 vs 看到 · 可以 vs 能 · 吗 vs 吧 · 吗 vs 是不是 · 如果 vs 只要 · 上去 vs 上来 · 往 vs 向 · 有点儿 vs 一点儿 · 又 vs 再 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 次 and 遍?
次 counts how many times something happens, and 遍 counts a full run from beginning to end. So you say 我去过两次北京 but 我把这篇课文读了一遍。
What is the difference between 次 and 遍?
次 counts any occurrence, while 遍 counts a complete run from beginning to end. 我去过两次 means I went twice, and 我读了两遍 means I read it through twice.
What is the difference between 次 and 遍?
次 counts occurrences. 遍 counts one complete run from start to end, so 看了两遍 means you watched it all the way through twice.
What is the difference between 次 and 遍?
次 counts any occurrence. 遍 means a full pass from start to end: 看了三次 means you watched it three times, and 看了三遍 stresses all of it each time. Use 遍 for reading, watching and reciting.
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