HSK 1
频率、重复副词:常、常常、再
pín lǜ 、 chóng fù fù cí : cháng 、 cháng cháng 、 zài
Adverbs of frequency and repetition: 常, 常常, 再
Explanation
The adverbs (副词 - words placed before a verb/adjective to add meaning about time, degree, frequency...) here are 常, 常常, 再, which indicate the frequency and repetition of an action.
Subject (the person or thing performing the action, at the start of the sentence) + 常/常常/再 + Verb. - 常 (cháng) and 常常 (chángcháng): both mean "often, frequently", indicating something that happens repeatedly. 常常 has a more emphatic and natural nuance in spoken language; 常 is shorter and leans toward written style. Both go BEFORE the verb. - 再 (zài): "again, once more", indicating a repeated action but usually in the FUTURE (something that has not yet happened), e.g. 明天再去 (go again tomorrow).
常/常常 for habits, things that happen often; 再 when you plan to do something again later.
再 (zài) differs from 又 (yòu). 再 is used for a repetition that has NOT yet happened (future); 又 (yòu - "again") is used for a repetition that HAS already happened (past). At the HSK1 level, just remember that 再 points to the future.
Using 再 to describe a past habit (wrong), or placing the adverb after the verb (wrong: 他去常). Adverbs always come before the verb.
Examples
He often goes to a restaurant to eat.
She frequently skips breakfast.
Today's movie was so good; let's go watch it again tomorrow.
Practice
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The grammar point “频率、重复副词:常、常常、再” (Adverbs of frequency and repetition: 常, 常常, 再) is one of the key structures at HSK 1. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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