HSK 5
频率、重复副词：偶尔、再次
pín lǜ 、 chóng fù fù cí ： ǒu ěr 、 zài cì
Adverbs of frequency and repetition: 偶尔 and 再次
Explanation
Both words are adverbs (words that modify a verb or adjective) of frequency, but their meanings are opposite: 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) means 'occasionally, rarely' — something that does not happen often; while 再次 (zàicì) means 'once more, again' — emphasizing repetition.
偶尔 + verb (to occasionally do something); 再次 + verb (to do something again once more), often paired with 发生 (fāshēng: to happen), 提醒 (tíxǐng: to remind), 见面 (jiànmiàn: to meet).
Use 偶尔 when you want to say an action happens sporadically, irregularly (the opposite of 经常 jīngcháng: frequently). Use 再次 when something occurs repeatedly; 再次 carries a more formal tone than 又 (yòu) or 再 (zài) and is often found in formal/written usage (used in books and documents).
偶尔 speaks of rarity; 再次 speaks of repetition. Do not confuse them: 'occasionally recurring' ≠ 'once more.'
Vietnamese learners often use 偶尔 for something that happens only once (wrong — 偶尔 must be a sporadically recurring event). Also, 再次 usually precedes formal disyllabic verbs, so do not pair it with short colloquial verbs — 再次去 sounds awkward, you should say 再去 (zài qù).
Examples
He does not often take leave; he is just occasionally late once in a while.
We will never let a similar thing happen again.
Practice
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The grammar point “频率、重复副词：偶尔、再次” (Adverbs of frequency and repetition: 偶尔 and 再次) is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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