When do I use 屡次 vs 屡屡?

Use 屡次 for neutral repetition of any action, positive or negative. Use 屡屡 specifically when the repetition is negative (e.g., mistakes, failures) and you want to emphasize the undesirable recurrence. 屡屡 is more literary.

Can 频频 be used for any kind of repeated action?

No. 频频 is best for gestures (nodding, waving) or for events that happen many times in a short period. For general 'frequently' over a longer time, use 经常 (jīngcháng) or 常常 (chángcháng).

Are 屡次 and 频频 interchangeable?

Not usually. 屡次 emphasizes 'many separate occasions' over time, while 频频 emphasizes 'high frequency within a short period or rapid succession'. Example: 他屡次来中国 (He came to China many times [over years]) vs 他频频来中国 (He came to China frequently [maybe many times in one year]). The latter sounds odd unless the context stresses short-term frequency.

I often see 屡屡 in news headlines. Does it always mean something negative?

Yes, almost always. Headlines like '屡屡发生事故' (accidents happen repeatedly) carry a critical tone. If the news is positive, they would use 屡次 or 多次 instead.

Easily confusedHSK 6

屡次 vs 屡屡 vs 频频: three ways to say 'repeatedly'

屡次 (lǚcì), 屡屡 (lǚlǚ), and 频频 (pínpín) all mean 'repeatedly' or 'frequently', but they differ in collocations and connotations. 屡次 is neutral and used for repeated actions over time; 屡屡 carries a negative tone (time and again of undesirable events); 频频 describes frequent, rapid occurrences, especially gestures or short events.

All three adverbs indicate repetition, but they are not interchangeable. 屡次 (lǚcì) is a neutral, general-purpose word for 'repeatedly' (actions happen many times). 屡屡 (lǚlǚ) also means 'time and again' but strongly implies that the repeated events are negative or regrettable. 频频 (pínpín) emphasizes high frequency and often describes rapid, consecutive actions, especially gestures like nodding or shaking, or events occurring in quick succession. Choosing the correct one depends on the nuance and typical collocations.

When to use each

屡次lǚcì

repeatedly (actions)

Use 屡次 for actions or events that occur many times, in a neutral or factual context. It works with both positive and negative events (e.g., success, failure, visiting, appearing). Often appears in formal or written Chinese.

屡次 can sometimes sound a bit formal or literary; in everyday speech, 多次 (duōcì) or 常常 (chángcháng) is more common.

屡屡lǚlǚ

time and again (often negative)

Use 屡屡 to emphasize that an action or situation repeats itself, especially when the repetition is undesirable, troublesome, or carries a negative evaluation. Common with verbs like 失败 (fail), 出错 (make mistakes), 被批评 (be criticized).

屡屡 is more literary than 屡次 and almost never used in casual conversation. It also has a stronger emotional overtone of frustration or complaint.

频频pínpín

frequently (gestures or rapid events)

Use 频频 for actions that happen in quick succession or with high frequency, often involving gestures (点头 nod, 摇头 shake head, 招手 wave), or for events that occur repeatedly in a short period (e.g., 频频发生 happen frequently).

频频 can sometimes be neutral, but it often implies a sense of urgency or rapid pace. It is less common for long-term repetition and more for immediate, repeated occurrences.

At a glance

	屡次	屡屡	频频
Typical collocations	发生, 出现, 失败, 获奖	失败, 出错, 被批评, 受挫	点头, 摇头, 招手, 发生, 亮相
Connotation	Neutral (positive/negative both possible)	Negative (undesirable events)	Neutral to mildly negative (rapid frequency)
Formality	Formal / written	Literary / formal	Written / news style
Typical subjects	Actions, events, results	Mistakes, failures, criticisms	Gestures, quick actions, rapid events

Examples

屡次
他屡次参加比赛，终于得了冠军。
Tā lǚcì cānjiā bǐsài, zhōngyú déle guànjūn.
He participated in the competition many times and finally won the championship.
Neutral repetition of an action; positive outcome.
屡次
这个问题屡次发生，必须解决。
Zhège wèntí lǚcì fāshēng, bìxū jiějué.
This problem has occurred repeatedly, and it must be solved.
Neutral; the problem is undesirable but 屡次 focuses on frequency, not connotation.
屡屡
他屡屡失败，灰心丧气。
Tā lǚlǚ shībài, huīxīn sàngqì.
He failed time and again, feeling disheartened.
Negative connotation of repeated failure.
频频
会议期间，他频频点头表示同意。
Huìyì qíjiān, tā pínpín diǎntóu biǎoshì tóngyì.
During the meeting, he nodded frequently to show agreement.
Frequent gesture (nodding).
频频
近期交通事故频频发生。
Jìnqī jiāotōng shìgù pínpín fāshēng.
Traffic accidents have occurred frequently recently.
Rapid, repeated events (negative but neutral in nuance – just high frequency).
屡屡
✗他屡屡获奖，令人佩服。
Tā lǚlǚ huòjiǎng, lìngrén pèifú.
He won awards time and again, admirable.
✗ Awkward: 屡屡 typically has negative connotation; for positive repetition use 屡次 or 多次.

Common mistakes

Using 屡屡 for neutral or positive repetition (e.g., 屡屡获奖 is odd; use 屡次 or 多次).
Using 频频 for a single extended action (e.g., 频频学习 is wrong; use 反复 or 多次).
Using 屡次 for gestures (e.g., 屡次点头 sounds unnatural; use 频频 or 不停).
Confusing 频频 with 平平 (píngpíng) – 平平 does not mean 'frequently'. For neutral frequency, use 常常 (chángcháng) or 经常 (jīngcháng) in everyday speech.
Overusing 屡次 in spoken Chinese when 老是 (lǎoshi) or 总是 (zǒngshì) would be more natural.

FAQ

When do I use 屡次 vs 屡屡?: Use 屡次 for neutral repetition of any action, positive or negative. Use 屡屡 specifically when the repetition is negative (e.g., mistakes, failures) and you want to emphasize the undesirable recurrence. 屡屡 is more literary.
Can 频频 be used for any kind of repeated action?: No. 频频 is best for gestures (nodding, waving) or for events that happen many times in a short period. For general 'frequently' over a longer time, use 经常 (jīngcháng) or 常常 (chángcháng).
Are 屡次 and 频频 interchangeable?: Not usually. 屡次 emphasizes 'many separate occasions' over time, while 频频 emphasizes 'high frequency within a short period or rapid succession'. Example: 他屡次来中国 (He came to China many times [over years]) vs 他频频来中国 (He came to China frequently [maybe many times in one year]). The latter sounds odd unless the context stresses short-term frequency.
I often see 屡屡 in news headlines. Does it always mean something negative?: Yes, almost always. Headlines like '屡屡发生事故' (accidents happen repeatedly) carry a critical tone. If the news is positive, they would use 屡次 or 多次 instead.