HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
次: how many times
Number + 次 after the verb says how many times: 我去过两次北京.
Structure
- Verb + 了 / 过 + number + 次 (+ object)
How it works
次 counts how many times something happens. It goes after the verb: 我去过三次.
With an ordinary object, the 次 phrase usually comes before it: 我看过两次这个电影. With a person or place name, it can come after: 我去过北京两次.
To ask: 几次? or 多少次?
Examples
-
我去过两次北京。
Wǒ qù guò liǎng cì Běijīng.
I’ve been to Beijing twice.
-
这个药一天吃三次。
Zhège yào yì tiān chī sān cì.
Take this medicine three times a day.
-
我给他打了三次电话。
Wǒ gěi tā dǎ le sān cì diànhuà.
I called him three times.
-
你来过几次中国？
Nǐ lái guò jǐ cì Zhōngguó?
How many times have you been to China?
-
这个电影我看了两次。
Zhège diànyǐng wǒ kàn le liǎng cì.
I’ve watched this film twice.
Words in these examples (22)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 过 | guò | to cross; to pass; to spend (time); to celebrate | HSK 2 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | time (occurrence), as in 三次 "three times" | HSK 2 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 药 | yào | medicine | HSK 2 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | HSK 1 |
| 给 | gěi | to give; for; to | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 打 | dǎ | to hit; to play (ball games); to make (a call) | HSK 2 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 电话 | diànhuà | telephone; phone call | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 几 | jǐ | how many (usually under ten); a few | HSK 1 |
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我两次去过北京。
✓我去过两次北京。
The number of times goes after the verb.
-
✗我去过两个次。
✓我去过两次。
次 is itself a measure word; no 个.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我吃过一 饺子。
2. 这个药一天吃 ？
3. 我去过 上海。