Frequency Adverbs: 经常、重新、老是、又
Frequency adverbs go before the verb and say how often or in what way an action happens. HSK 2 has 经常 (often), 重新 (again from the start), 老是 (always, with a complaint) and 又 (again, of something that already happened).
- 经常 (jīng cháng) = often, regularly
- 重新 (chóng xīn) = again from the start, redo
- 老是 (lǎo shì) = always (slightly negative — complaint tone)
- 又 (yòu) = again (something happened again)
经常 vs 老是: Both mean 'often/always' but 老是 implies annoyance or complaint.
重新 vs 又: 重新 = start over from the beginning; 又 = the same thing happened one more time.
✅ 他经常来我家。(He often comes to my house.)
✅ 请你重新写一次。(Please write it again from the start.)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 她经常在图书馆看书。 | Tā jīng cháng zài tú shū guǎn kàn shū. | She often reads at the library. | 经常 before verb shows regular/habitual action |
| 这道题你做错了，请重新做一次。 | Zhè dào tí nǐ zuò cuò le, qǐng chóng xīn zuò yī cì. | You got this question wrong — please do it again from the start. | 重新 = redo from the beginning, not just 'one more time' |
| 他老是迟到，老师很不高兴。 | Tā lǎo shì chí dào, lǎo shī hěn bù gāo xìng. | He is always late; the teacher is very unhappy. | 老是 implies repetitive behavior that the speaker finds problematic |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
经常 (jīng cháng)
Says something happens often.
Structure: Subject + 经常 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他经常去游泳。 | Tā jīng cháng qù yóu yǒng. | He often goes swimming. |
| 我们经常一起吃晚饭。 | Wǒ men jīng cháng yì qǐ chī wǎn fàn. | We often have dinner together. |
| 你经常给家人打电话吗？ | Nǐ jīng cháng gěi jiā rén dǎ diàn huà ma? | Do you often call your family? |
Not: 我去经常商店。 The adverb goes before the verb: 我经常去商店.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, adverbs (频率副词).
重新 (chóng xīn)
Means to do something again from the start.
Structure: 重新 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个文件不对，请重新发给我。 | Zhè gè wén jiàn bú duì, qǐng chóng xīn fā gěi wǒ. | This file is wrong, please send it to me again. |
| 他想重新开始学钢琴。 | Tā xiǎng chóng xīn kāi shǐ xué gāng qín. | He wants to start learning the piano again. |
| 老师让我们重新写一遍。 | Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men chóng xīn xiě yí biàn. | The teacher asked us to write it over again. |
Not: 请写重新。 重新 goes before the verb: 请重新写.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (频率副词).
老是 (lǎo shì)
Means 'always', and usually complains about a bad habit.
Structure: Subject + 老是 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他老是忘记带钥匙。 | Tā lǎo shì wàng jì dài yào shi. | He always forgets to bring his keys. |
| 你老是玩手机，不累吗？ | Nǐ lǎo shì wán shǒu jī, bú lèi ma? | You are always on your phone, are you not tired? |
| 弟弟老是问我同样的问题。 | Dì di lǎo shì wèn wǒ tóng yàng de wèn tí. | My younger brother keeps asking me the same question. |
Not: 他迟到老是。 老是 goes before the verb: 他老是迟到.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (频率副词).
又 (yòu)
Means a repeated action that has already happened again.
Structure: Subject + 又 + verb + 了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他昨天来了，今天又来了。 | Tā zuó tiān lái le, jīn tiān yòu lái le. | He came yesterday and came again today. |
| 我又忘了他的名字。 | Wǒ yòu wàng le tā de míng zì. | I have forgotten his name again. |
| 你怎么又哭了？ | Nǐ zěn me yòu kū le? | Why are you crying again? |
Not: 明天我又来。 For a repeat in the future use 再: 明天我再来.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (频率副词); level 4, complex sentences (并列复句).
Compared side by side: 又 vs 再.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
The same pattern at other levels
- Frequency Adverbs — HSK 3
Questions about Frequency Adverbs
What does 频率副词 (Frequency Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
Frequency adverbs go before the verb and say how often or in what way an action happens. HSK 2 has 经常 (often), 重新 (again from the start), 老是 (always, with a complaint) and 又 (again, of something that already happened). It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 频率副词 (Frequency Adverbs) in a sentence?
她经常在图书馆看书。 — Tā jīng cháng zài tú shū guǎn kàn shū. — She often reads at the library. 经常 before verb shows regular/habitual action.
What do you need to know before 频率副词 (Frequency Adverbs)?
Time Expressions as Adverbials (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 又 and 再?
又 repeats something that has already happened, as in 他又迟到了. 再 repeats something that has not happened yet, as in 请再说一遍。
Is 老是 the same as 总是?
They are close, but 老是 usually carries a complaint, as in 他老是迟到。 总是 is neutral and fits good habits as well.
Frequency Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level