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AdverbsHSK 5

Comparing 常常 and 往往

常常 and 往往 both mean 'often,' but their negation patterns differ. 常常 uses 不 before the verb (不常), while 往往 places 不 or 没 after itself (往往不 or 往往没). Often, 往往 implies a habitual or predictable situation, whereas 常常 simply indicates high frequency.

Structure

Subj. + 不常 + Verb
Negation pattern for 常常
Subj. + 往往 + 不 / 没 + Verb
Negation pattern for 往往

Examples

  • 我不常去健身房。
    Wǒ bùcháng qù jiànshēnfáng.
    I don't often go to the gym.
  • 他往往不吃早饭。
    Tā wǎngwǎng bù chī zǎofàn.
    He usually doesn't eat breakfast.
  • 他们往往没时间做饭。
    Tāmen wǎngwǎng méi shíjiān zuòfàn.
    They usually don't have time to cook.

Words that use this