常 (cháng) — often; frequently
Definition
常 (cháng) means 'often' as a single-syllable adverb, usually before the subject. It is interchangeable with 经常 and 常常, which are the more common everyday forms.
adverb
oftenfrequently
Examples
- 常。Wǒ cháng fàng xué hòu qù dǎ qiú.I often play ball after school.
- 常？Nǐ cháng kàn diàn yǐng ma?Do you often watch movies?
- 常。Tā cháng zài jiā kàn shū.He often reads books at home.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.
Grammar
Appears in
Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.