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常常 (cháng cháng) — often; frequently

Definition

常常 is a casual, everyday 'often' for habits and repeated actions. It's very close to 经常 (also 'often'); 总是 is stronger, meaning 'always'.

adverb
oftenfrequently

Examples

  • 常常。
    Wǒ cháng cháng zuò dì tiě shàng bān.
    I often take the subway to work.
  • 常常。
    Tā cháng cháng zài tú shū guǎn xué xí.
    He often studies in the library.
  • 常常？
    Nǐ cháng cháng hé péng you yì qǐ chī fàn ma?
    Do you often eat with friends?

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

常chángoften
常chángoften

常 means often, and repeating it strengthens the sense of frequency in 常常.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng常cháng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

Open 常 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3Frequency & Duration5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.