Frequency complement: V+次/遍/趟
A frequency complement goes after a verb to say how many times the action happened. At HSK 4 the measure words are 次 (occasions), 遍 (one full run through) and 趟 (a trip or round trip).
Three main measure words:
- 次 (cì) — general occurrences: 说了三次 (said it 3 times)
- 遍 (biàn) — from start to finish (emphasizes completion): 读了两遍 (read through twice)
- 趟 (tàng) — round trips / visits: 去了一趟 (made a trip there)
Structure: Verb + 了 + Number + Measure
Object placement: if there is an object, it goes before the frequency complement:
> 我看了那部电影三遍。(those 3 complete viewings of that film)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这首歌我听了很多次，还是不厌倦。 | Zhè shǒu gē wǒ tīng le hěn duō cì, háishì bù yànjuàn. | I've listened to this song many times and still don't get tired of it. | 次 = general occurrence count; object before frequency phrase |
| 请你把这篇文章再读一遍。 | Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè piān wénzhāng zài dú yī biàn. | Please read this article through one more time. | 遍 emphasises reading from beginning to end |
| 我去年去了两趟北京，都是出差。 | Wǒ qùnián qù le liǎng tàng Běijīng, dōu shì chūchāi. | I went to Beijing twice last year — both times on business. | 趟 = number of trips to a place |
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.
次 (cì)
Counts how many times an action happens.
Structure: verb + number + 次 (+ object)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我去年去过一次上海。 | Wǒ qù nián qù guo yí cì shàng hǎi. | I went to Shanghai once last year. |
| 这个问题老师讲了三次。 | Zhè gè wèn tí lǎo shī jiǎng le sān cì. | The teacher explained this question three times. |
| 他每个月来看我两次。 | Tā měi gè yuè lái kàn wǒ liǎng cì. | He comes to see me twice a month. |
Not: 我见过三次他。 A pronoun object goes before the number of times: 我见过他三次.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, measure words (动量词).
次 is also explained in: Quantity Complements: Action Count and Comparison Degree (HSK 2) · Duration & Frequency Complements (HSK 3) · Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 (HSK 4).
遍 (biàn)
Counts a full run through something, from start to finish.
Structure: verb + number + 遍
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 老师让我们把课文读三遍。 | Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men bǎ kè wén dú sān biàn. | The teacher made us read the text three times through. |
| 这个故事我听了两遍。 | Zhè gè gù shi wǒ tīng le liǎng biàn. | I have heard this story twice. |
| 请你再说一遍，好吗？ | Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí biàn, hǎo ma? | Could you say it once more, please? |
Not: 我走过这条路三遍。 遍 means the whole thing from start to end. For going somewhere, use 次: 走过三次.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, measure words (动量词).
遍 is also explained in: Classifiers: 层、封、件、条、位 and Action Measures (HSK 2) · Duration & Frequency Complements (HSK 3) · Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 (HSK 4).
趟 (tàng)
Counts a trip, a round trip, or one run of a train or bus.
Structure: verb + number + 趟 (+ place)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我明天要去银行跑一趟。 | Wǒ míng tiān yào qù yín háng pǎo yí tàng. | I have to make a trip to the bank tomorrow. |
| 他上个月去了两趟深圳。 | Tā shàng gè yuè qù le liǎng tàng shēn zhèn. | He went to Shenzhen twice last month. |
| 这趟车去哪儿？ | Zhè tàng chē qù nǎr? | Where does this train go? |
Not: 我想吃一趟饭。 趟 is only for trips and runs of a vehicle, not for eating.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, measure words (动量词).
趟 is also explained in: Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 (HSK 4).
Compared side by side: 次 vs 遍.
What this opens up
These patterns list Frequency complement among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Frequency complement
What does 动量补语 (Frequency complement) mean in Chinese?
A frequency complement goes after a verb to say how many times the action happened. At HSK 4 the measure words are 次 (occasions), 遍 (one full run through) and 趟 (a trip or round trip). It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 动量补语 (Frequency complement) in a sentence?
这首歌我听了很多次，还是不厌倦。 — Zhè shǒu gē wǒ tīng le hěn duō cì, háishì bù yànjuàn. — I've listened to this song many times and still don't get tired of it. 次 = general occurrence count; object before frequency phrase.
Where does 动量补语 (Frequency complement) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 4, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 动量补语 (Frequency complement) lead to?
Action measure words (HSK 4), Complement types (HSK 4). Each of them names 动量补语 (Frequency complement) among its own prerequisites.
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.
Where does the object go with 次?
A pronoun comes before the number: 我见过他三次. A noun can go before or after: 我去过北京两次 or 我去过两次北京.
Frequency complement 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.
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