Welcome—let's make your Chinese feel more natural by talking about routines and how often things happen. This lesson is short, friendly, and full of phrases you can use right away.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll learn common phrases for talking about frequency (how often things happen). We'll practice useful frames like 我很少___、我总是___、这种情况多久发生一次？ and daily/weekly routines so you can ask and answer questions about habits. (CEFR-aligned phrasing helps you speak more naturally.)
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use common frequency frames (e.g. 我很少___。, 我总是___。).
Ask and answer 'how often' questions: 这种情况多久发生一次？ and 你每天都___吗？
Talk about daily, evening and weekend routines: 我每天早上都___。 我每天晚上都___。 我周末会___。
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
我很少___
Wǒ hěn shǎo ___.
I rarely ___.
Meaning: I rarely ___.
When to use: Use this to say that something hardly ever happens (very low frequency). You usually add a verb after the blank, e.g. 我很少去电影院。
Tip: Don't drop 很; saying 我少去 is possible but sounds incomplete. Use 我很少___。
我很少去电影院。
Wǒ hěn shǎo qù diànyǐngyuàn.
I rarely go to the cinema.
我很少在周一加班。
Wǒ hěn shǎo zài zhōuyī jiābān.
I rarely work overtime on Mondays.
我总是___
Wǒ zǒng shì ___.（我总是___。）
I ___ all the time.
Meaning: I ___ all the time.
When to use: Use this to say something happens very frequently. You can often swap in 我经常___。 for a slightly softer tone.
Tip: Be careful: 我总是___。emphasizes high frequency. Using 总是 when it's occasional sounds wrong.
我总是忘记带钥匙。
Wǒ zǒng shì wàngjì dài yàoshi.
I always forget to bring my keys.
他总是准时到办公室。
Tā zǒng shì zhǔnshí dào bàngōngshì.
He always arrives at the office on time.
这种情况多久发生一次？
Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng duō jiǔ fāshēng yí cì?
How often does it happen?
Meaning: How often does it happen?
When to use: Ask this to find out the frequency of an event or situation. In casual speech, people often shorten it to 多久一次？
Tip: Learners sometimes say '多久发生？' — it's fine as a shortcut, but '多久发生一次？' is clearer.
这种情况多久发生一次？
Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng duō jiǔ fāshēng yí cì?
How often does this situation happen?
你去看牙医多久一次？
Nǐ qù kàn yáyī duō jiǔ yí cì?
How often do you go to the dentist?
你每天都___吗？
Nǐ měi tiān dōu ___ ma?
Do you ___ every day?
Meaning: Do you ___ every day?
When to use: Use 都 to emphasize that something happens each day. Put the verb where the blank is: 你每天都吃早饭吗？
你每天都练琴吗？
Nǐ měi tiān dōu liàn qín ma?
Do you practice piano every day?
你每天都坐地铁上班吗？
Nǐ měi tiān dōu zuò dìtiě shàngbān ma?
Do you take the subway to work every day?
我大多数日子都___。
Wǒ dà duōshù rìzi dōu ___.
I ___ most days.
Meaning: I ___ most days.
When to use: Say this when something happens on the majority of days, but not literally every single day.
我大多数日子都在家做饭。
Wǒ dà duōshù rìzi dōu zài jiā zuò fàn.
Most days I cook at home.
我大多数日子都骑车上班。
Wǒ dà duōshù rìzi dōu qíchē shàngbān.
Most days I bike to work.
我每天早上都___。
Wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang dōu ___.
I ___ every morning.
Meaning: I ___ every morning.
When to use: Use this to describe a morning habit. Add the activity after the blank: 我每天早上都跑步。
我每天早上都喝一杯咖啡。
Wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang dōu hē yì bēi kāfēi.
I drink a cup of coffee every morning.
我每天早上都看新闻。
Wǒ měi tiān zǎoshang dōu kàn xīnwén.
I watch the news every morning.
我每天晚上都___。
Wǒ měi tiān wǎnshang dōu ___.
I ___ every evening.
Meaning: I ___ every evening.
When to use: Use this to describe an evening routine. Native speakers often say 晚上 for evening; you can add the verb after the blank.
我每天晚上都散步。
Wǒ měi tiān wǎnshang dōu sànbù.
I walk every evening.
我每天晚上都给妈妈打电话。
Wǒ měi tiān wǎnshang dōu gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.
I call my mom every evening.
我周末会___。
Wǒ zhōumò huì ___.
I ___ on weekends.
Meaning: I ___ on weekends.
When to use: Use this to say what you usually do on weekends. If you mean every single weekend, emphasize 每个周末都___.
我周末会去市场买菜。
Wǒ zhōumò huì qù shìchǎng mǎi cài.
I go to the market to buy groceries on weekends.
我周末会见朋友。
Wǒ zhōumò huì jiàn péngyǒu.
I meet friends on weekends.
我偶尔会___。
Wǒ ǒu'ěr huì ___.
I ___ once in a while.
Meaning: I ___ once in a while.
When to use: Use 偶尔 to say something happens occasionally or not often. It's a natural, neutral way to express occasional actions.
我偶尔会去画画。
Wǒ ǒu'ěr huì qù huàhuà.
I paint once in a while.
我偶尔会吃甜点。
Wǒ ǒu'ěr huì chī tiándiǎn.
I sometimes have dessert.
我每两周___一次。
Wǒ měi liǎng zhōu ___ yí cì.
I ___ every two weeks.
Meaning: I ___ every two weeks.
When to use: Use this to say something happens at two-week intervals. You can also say '我隔一周___一次' for a similar meaning.
我每两周洗一次床单。
Wǒ měi liǎng zhōu xǐ yí cì chuángdān.
I wash my sheets every two weeks.
我每两周去一次理发店。
Wǒ měi liǎng zhōu qù yí cì lǐfàdiàn.
I go to the hairdresser every two weeks.
没有以前那么频繁了。
Méiyǒu yǐqián nàme pínfán le.
Not as often as before.
Meaning: Not as often as before.
When to use: Use this to say a frequency has decreased compared with the past. A casual alternative is 没以前那么常了。
我现在出门旅游没有以前那么频繁了。
Wǒ xiànzài chūmén lǚyóu méiyǒu yǐqián nàme pínfán le.
I don't travel as often as before.
我们聚会没有以前那么频繁了。
Wǒmen jùhuì méiyǒu yǐqián nàme pínfán le.
We don't get together as often as before.
不是每天都这样。
Bú shì měi tiān dōu zhèyàng.
Not every day.
Meaning: Not every day.
When to use: Use this to say something happens regularly but not daily. It's a short way to say '不是每天发生' in conversation.
