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频繁 (pín fán) — frequent

Definition

Formal/written adjective 'frequent', typically modifying nouns (频繁的会议). 经常 and 常常 are the everyday adverbs modifying verbs.

adjective
frequent

Examples

  • 频繁。
    pín fán De huì yì ràng wǒ hěn lèi.
    Frequent meetings make me very tired.
  • 频繁。
    Tā zuì jìn ké sou hěn pín fán.
    He has been coughing very frequently lately.
  • 频繁。
    Tā pín fán dì fā yóu jiàn gěi kè hù.
    He frequently sends emails to clients.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

频pínfrequent
繁fánnumerous

频 and 繁 both point to many occurrences, together meaning frequent.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頻; 频 is its simplified writing.

For 频, the traditional form 頻 came from an older form showing a person near water and meaning 'on the verge'; one part was later removed to mark the 'frequent' use.

Open 频 →

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
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
敏
敏mǐn繁fán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

繁 pairs 敏, a sound part, with 糸, meaning silk.

Open 繁 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Frequency & Duration

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