常常 · 有时候
often · sometimes · not often
Structure
主语 + 常常／常／有时候／有时 + 动词 · 主语 + 不常 + 动词
What it means
常常 (or just 常) means “often”; 有时候 (or the shorter 有时) means “sometimes”.
How it is built
Subject + 常常／有时候 + verb: 我常常喝茶 (I often drink tea). They also go before 在 + place: 我常常在家读书. Paired: 有时候……，有时候…… (sometimes …, sometimes …).
When to use it
Both go after the person and before the verb. 有时候 can also open the sentence (有时候我在家吃饭), but 常常 can’t.
Watch out
✗ 我不常常看电视。 ✓ 我不常看电视。 For “not often”, say 不常.
Examples
我常常喝茶，有时喝水。
I often drink tea, and sometimes water.
我不常看电视。
I don’t watch much TV.
他有时候走路上班，有时候打车。
Sometimes he walks to work and sometimes he takes a taxi.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 18: 我最喜欢唱歌 (Likes and hobbies)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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