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March 24, 2026
往往wǎngwǎng(wang3wang3)
往往 (wǎngwǎng) means 'often' or 'frequently' and is used to describe actions or situations that commonly occur. It conveys a sense of regularity, indicating that something happens repeatedly or typically in a particular context.
Frequency#6745DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
The concept of 'frequent occurrences' is significant in Chinese proverbs and sayings, reflecting the importance of patterns and predictability in life and decision-making.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'waving' hand that signals 'often' as it repeatedly moves back and forth. The character 往 combines the idea of movement (往) with the repetition (往), linking it to the meaning of frequency.
Meanings of 往往
wǎngwǎng(wang3wang3)
1often
2frequently
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 往往
往往Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#6745Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 往往
Podcast: 往往
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AI Study Notes for 往往
Quick Contrast
常常 (chángcháng) vs. 经常 (jīngcháng) — use 往往 when emphasizing a typical or expected occurrence in a specific context, while 常常 and 经常 are more general terms for frequency.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'waving' hand that signals 'often' as it repeatedly moves back and forth. The character 往 combines the idea of movement (往) with the repetition (往), linking it to the meaning of frequency.
Usage Notes
往往 is often used in both spoken and written Chinese, but be careful not to confuse it with 常常 (chángcháng), which also means 'often' but is more informal. Additionally, it frequently appears in conjunction with other words to describe patterns or behaviors.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 往往 connects with other frequency adverbs like 常常 and 经常 (jīngcháng). When studying, focus on context and collocations to understand how it fits into sentences.
Cultural Note
The concept of 'frequent occurrences' is significant in Chinese proverbs and sayings, reflecting the importance of patterns and predictability in life and decision-making.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 往往 with the word 有时 (yǒushí), which means 'sometimes'. For example, saying '我往往去商店' (I sometimes go to the store) is incorrect; it should be '我有时去商店'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 往往
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Grammar Patterns of 往往
往往 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
pà kè sī wǎng wǎng huì gēn tā de pāi shè duì xiàng chǎn shēng gǎn qíng jiū gé。
Parks has a tendency to become personally involved with his photographic subjects.
Cultural Notes for 往往
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of 'frequent occurrences' is significant in Chinese proverbs and sayings, reflecting the importance of patterns and predictability in life and decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions about 往往
Yes, 往往 is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Yes, while both mean 'often', 往往 suggests a more habitual or expected frequency, whereas 常常 is more casual.
Yes, you can start a sentence with 往往 to emphasize the frequency of the action that follows.
