Frequency and Repetition Adverbs in Chinese
重新 / 经常 / 老 / 老是 / 又
These adverbs describe recurrence in different ways. 重新 means doing an action anew, 经常 marks regular frequency, 老 and 老是 present repeated situations and often carry speaker attitude, while 又 marks another occurrence in a realized sequence. They stand before the predicate and are not interchangeable in every temporal context.
Published July 30, 2026
Reviewed July 30, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + Frequency / Repetition Adverb + Predicate
Read the structure
These adverbs describe recurrence in different ways. 重新 means doing an action anew, 经常 marks regular frequency, 老 and 老是 present repeated situations and often carry speaker attitude, while 又 marks another occurrence in a realized sequence. They stand before the predicate and are not interchangeable in every temporal context. Keep the model Subject + Frequency / Repetition Adverb + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
这篇作文我要重新写一遍。
I need to rewrite this essay.
Choose the right context
Use 重新 when starting an action anew. Use 经常 for a recurring habit. Use 老, 老是, or 又 for repeated situations with the appropriate stance and time.
我经常在图书馆学习。
I often study in the library.
Respect the boundary
Do not put the adverb after the completed verb-object phrase. Do not use 又 for a merely planned future repetition. Do not assume 老 is always the adjective meaning old.
这篇作文我要写一遍重新。
(I need to write this essay anew.)
Repair the pattern
The repetition adverb follows its completed predicate: 重新 must precede the action that is performed anew. 又 is used for a planned future repeat event: For a planned or unrealized future repetition, 再 is required in this neutral context rather than 又.
这篇作文我要重新写一遍。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这篇作文我要重新写一遍。
I need to rewrite this essay.
这
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
篇
Frequency / Repetition Adverb
This part occupies the Frequency / Repetition Adverb position in the model pattern.
作文
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
我要
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
重新
Frequency / Repetition Adverb
This part occupies the Frequency / Repetition Adverb position in the model pattern.
写
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
一遍
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这篇作文我要重新写一遍。
I need to rewrite this essay.
我经常在图书馆学习。
I often study in the library.
我们队又进了一个球。
Our team scored another goal.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 重新 when starting an action anew.
- Use 经常 for a recurring habit.
- Use 老, 老是, or 又 for repeated situations with the appropriate stance and time.
Do not use it when
- Do not put the adverb after the completed verb-object phrase.
- Do not use 又 for a merely planned future repetition.
- Do not assume 老 is always the adjective meaning old.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这篇作文我要写一遍重新。
这篇作文我要重新写一遍。
The repetition adverb follows its completed predicate
重新 must precede the action that is performed anew.
明天我又去图书馆。
明天我再去图书馆。
又 is used for a planned future repeat event
For a planned or unrealized future repetition, 再 is required in this neutral context rather than 又.
这篇作文我要写一遍重新。
重新 must precede the action that is performed anew.
明天我又去图书馆。
For a planned or unrealized future repetition, 再 is required in this neutral context rather than 又.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 重新 / 经常 / 老 / 老是 / 又.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 重新 / 经常 / 老 / 老是 / 又. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Frequency and Repetition Adverbs Questions
Do 老 and 老是 always sound negative?
They often convey impatience or complaint, but context can reduce that attitude; 经常 is more neutral.
How are 又 and 再 different?
又 commonly marks a repeated event treated as realized, while 再 commonly marks a later, planned, or conditional repetition.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 item 【二16】, PDF p. 187
Lists five frequency and repetition adverbs with pre-predicate examples.
Official source时间副词在对外汉语教学中的句法语义分析
脱傲 · 北京理工大学学报（社会科学版） · 2006
Locator: Article pp. 113–120, time-adverb classification and error analysis
Classifies frequency and repetition meanings and supports pre-predicate placement and semantic selection.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: Course PDF pp. 13–15, adverbs and time adverbs
Defines adverbs as adverbials and distinguishes time adverbs by syntactic distribution.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
又/再又 (yòu) vs 再 (zài): Again
Choose 又 for a realized recurrence and 再 for a later or conditional repetition.
Continue learning
再Conditional or Subsequent 再
Continue from the broad repetition inventory to the specific later or conditional use of 再.
Compare
偶尔Low Frequency with 偶尔
Compare regular 经常 and attitude-bearing 老是 with low-frequency 偶尔.
Continue learning
一再/再三Repeated Action with 一再 and 再三
Move from general recurrence to repeated events emphasized as happening many times.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Choose 又 for a realized recurrence and 再 for a later or conditional repetition.