Words for habits, frequency and the past, present and future.
Chinese puts words for when and how often before the verb, not at the end of the sentence as English often does: 我偶尔喝咖啡, “I drink coffee occasionally”. Only a count of times or a length of time follows the verb: 去过两次, been twice. Watch 从来: it almost always comes with a negative — 从来不for a habit从来没for something that has never happened
The words
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Noun (4)
未来the future; comingNoun3
未来几天会一直下雨。It will keep raining for the next few days.
More written than 将来, and it can stand before a noun: the coming days, years.
过去the past; in the pastNoun3
过去这里只有几家小商店。In the past there were only a few small shops here.
As a verb, “to go over”, it is read guòqu.
年代decade; eraNoun3
这首歌是八十年代的。This song is from the eighties.
一辈子all one’s life; a lifetimeNoun3
我爷爷一辈子都住在这个村子里。My grandfather lived in this village all his life.
Adverb (16)
平常usually; ordinaryAdverb3
他平常话不多，今天怎么这么高兴？He doesn’t usually say much — why is he so cheerful today?
Also an adjective: 很平常, quite ordinary.
通常usually; normallyAdverb3
银行周末通常只开半天。Banks usually open for only half a day at weekends.
A little more formal than 平时.
偶尔occasionally; now and thenAdverb3
我不太喝酒，只是偶尔喝一点儿。I don’t drink much — just a little now and then.
经常often; frequentlyAdverb3
他经常去图书馆看书。He often goes to the library to read.
老是always (usually as a complaint)Adverb3
他老是忘带钥匙。He’s always forgetting his keys.
Spoken, and usually a complaint; 总是 is neutral.
时常often; frequentlyAdverb3
离开家以后，我时常想起小时候的事。Since leaving home I often think back to my childhood.
总是alwaysAdverb3
她上课总是坐在第一排。She always sits in the front row in class.
从来always (so far); with a negative: neverAdverb3
他从来没去过外国。He has never been abroad.
有时候sometimesAdverb2
有时候我走路上班，有时候骑车。Sometimes I walk to work, sometimes I cycle.
从小from childhood; since one was littleAdverb3
她从小就喜欢画画儿。She has loved drawing since she was little.
很少rarely; seldomAdverb3
我很少看电视，一般在网上看新闻。I rarely watch TV; I usually read the news online.
难得rarely; seldom; hard to come byAdverb3
我们难得见一次面，今天多聊一会儿吧。We hardly ever see each other, so let’s chat a bit longer today.
刚刚just now; only justAdverb3
会议刚刚结束，大家还没走。The meeting has only just finished; nobody has left yet.
永远forever; alwaysAdverb3
我永远不会忘记那一天。I will never forget that day.
暂时for the time being; temporarilyAdverb3
老板不在，你暂时先等一下。The boss isn’t in — please wait for now.
迟早sooner or laterAdverb3
这件事你不告诉她，她迟早也会知道。Even if you don’t tell her, she’ll find out sooner or later.
Time word (19)
平时usually; on an ordinary dayTime word3
我平时七点起床，周末睡到九点。I usually get up at seven, and at weekends I sleep till nine.
每次every timeTime word3
每次见到他，他都在看手机。Every time I see him, he’s looking at his phone.
每年every yearTime word2
我们每年春节都回老家。Every year we go back to our home town for Spring Festival.
每周every week; weeklyTime word3
这门课每周上两次。This course meets twice a week.
每月every month; monthlyTime word3
我每月给父母寄一些钱。Every month I send my parents some money.
早晚morning and evening; sooner or laterTime word3
这种药早晚各吃一次。Take this medicine once in the morning and once in the evening.
白天daytime; during the dayTime word3
白天我上班，晚上上汉语课。I work during the day and have Chinese classes in the evening.
当时at that time; thenTime word3
当时我太紧张了，什么都忘了。At the time I was so nervous that I forgot everything.
那时at that time; back thenTime word3
我十岁搬到上海，那时我一句上海话也不会。I moved to Shanghai when I was ten; back then I couldn’t speak a word of Shanghainese.
Also 那时候, a little more spoken.
那会儿back then; at that time (spoken)Time word3
我刚来北京那会儿，一个朋友也没有。When I first came to Beijing, I didn’t have a single friend.
当年in those years; back thenTime word3
当年我们一起上大学的时候，他就很喜欢唱歌。Back when we were at university together, he already loved singing.
Read dàngnián, with a fourth tone, it means “that same year”.
最近recently; lately; these daysTime word3
最近天气变化很大，小心感冒。The weather has been very changeable lately — take care not to catch a cold.
目前at present; currentlyTime word3
目前这个问题还没有好办法。At present there is still no good solution to this problem.
将来the future; in futureTime word3
你将来想做什么工作？What job do you want to do in the future?
从前formerly; once upon a timeTime word3
从前有一个老人住在山里。Once upon a time an old man lived in the mountains.
以来sinceTime word3
上大学以来，他一直住在学校里。Ever since he started university, he has lived on campus.
It comes after the event, the reverse of English “since”.
一阵子a while; a period of timeTime word3
前一阵子我特别忙，没时间给你打电话。I was really busy for a while and had no time to call you.
年底the end of the yearTime word3
年底公司特别忙。The company is especially busy at the end of the year.
月底the end of the monthTime word3
这个月的房租月底以前交就行。This month’s rent just needs to be paid before the end of the month.
Idiom (1)
一年四季all year roundIdiom3
这里一年四季都有新鲜的水果。There is fresh fruit here all year round.
