Second in order or rank; not the first or the finest.
Next, second; sequence, order; a time/occasion; inferior quality. Ice (冫) beside a yawning, lacking figure (欠): missing first place leaves you second.
次
Common Usage & Traps
- 一次 — one time
- 两次 — two times
- 三次 — three times
- 每次 — every time
- 下次 — next time
- 这次 — this time
- 第一次 — first time
- 几次 — several times
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一个次一次次 is itself a measure word; it cannot take another measure word like 个.
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次一次一次次 is not a verb; it cannot be reduplicated the way verbs like 看看 can.
What is the difference between 次 and 回 when counting times?
次 is the neutral default for counting occurrences; 回 is more colloquial and less formal.
Both 次 and 回 count how many times an action happens. 次 is the standard, neutral choice and works in all contexts, including ordinals like 第一次. 回 is more colloquial, common in northern speech, and often interchangeable in casual conversation, but it sounds less formal and is less common with ordinals.
| Dimension | Natural (次) | Avoid (回 in formal) |
|---|---|---|
| Formality | Neutral, standard | Colloquial, informal |
| Common usage | 我去过三次北京。 | 我去过三回北京。 (acceptable but less formal) |
| With ordinals | 第一次 | 第一回 (less common) |
Can 次 be used alone as a standalone word?
No, 次 always attaches to a number or another word to a number or appear in compounds like 次数.
次 cannot stand alone as a complete utterance. It normally follows a numeral, as in 一次 or 两次, or appears in compounds such as 次数 (frequency) and 次品 (defective product). Learners sometimes try to use 次 by itself to mean 'time', but that is ungrammatical.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | 一次 | 次 |
| With number | 两次 | 次两 |
| In compound | 次数 | 次 alone |
Appears in Stories 7 stories
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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整桌的龙虾、和牛，他一点儿没有碰，全程只动了 三次 筷子：一筷子鱼，一根青菜，半碗汤。
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旁边的人都在给他敬酒，他 每次 都端起来酒杯，嘴唇沾沾杯沿就放下。
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他忽然说，十多年前他 第一次 跟大客户吃饭。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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最近我每周都游 两三次 ，但看电影是我最大的爱好！
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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但谢安不想做官， 多次 拒绝了朝廷的邀请，就住在会稽的东山（今天的浙江省会稽山），和朋友一起游玩。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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这是我 第一次 在中国吃中国菜，很好吃，我很喜欢。
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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打 一次 要一百多，现在我只在马路上慢跑了。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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前天有个朋友告诉我，要想了解老北京的文化，应该去老茶馆喝 一次 "大碗儿茶"。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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有一次 他得了心脏病，住进医院。
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