HSK 2 Chinese Word Pair
Ci vs Bian: Two Ways to Say Times
次 vs 遍
Cì vs Biàn
4:15 min video · 10 sentences · 3 key words
Transcript with pinyin and English
- 我去过两次北京。Wǒ qù guo liǎng cì běijīng.I have been to Beijing twice.
- 老师让我读了三遍课文。Lǎoshī ràng wǒ dú le sān biàn kèwén.The teacher made me read the text three times through.
- 这本书我看了一遍。Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn le yí biàn.I read this book through once.
- 我一个星期去三次图书馆。Wǒ yí gè xīngqī qù sān cì túshūguǎn.I go to the library three times a week.
- 这个歌很好听，请再唱一遍。Zhège gē hěn hǎotīng, qǐng zài chàng yí biàn.This song is nice, please sing it once more from the start.
- 他今天打了两次电话。Tā jīntiān dǎ le liǎng cì diànhuà.He made two phone calls today.
- 这个字我写了五遍。Zhège zì wǒ xiě le wǔ biàn.I wrote this character five times.
- 这次考试我考得不错。Zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ kǎo de búcuò.I did well on this exam.
- 医生说药一天吃三次。Yīshēng shuō yào yì tiān chī sān cì.The doctor says to take the medicine three times a day.
- 老师说得太快，请再说一遍。Lǎoshī shuō de tài kuài, qǐng zàishuō yí biàn.The teacher spoke too fast, please say it again.
About this lesson
次 counts how many times something happens. 遍 counts how many times you go through something from start to end.
How to practise
- Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
- Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the 跟读 · Your turn pause.
- At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.
The difference: 次 vs 遍
- 次 Cì time (occasion). Counts events, trips, or how often something happens.
- 遍 Biàn time (whole run). Counts full run-throughs: read, sing, say, write.
Common mistake: 我去过北京两遍。 ✗ · 我去过北京两次。 ✓ (Going to a place is an event, not a start-to-end process.)
Which one fits? 选一选
Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.
我去过两＿＿北京。
次 / 遍 · Counting trips, not a full run-through
Show the answer
我去过两次北京。
Wǒ qù guo liǎng cì běijīng.
I have been to Beijing twice.
老师让我读了三＿＿课文。
次 / 遍 · Reading a text from start to end
Show the answer
老师让我读了三遍课文。
Lǎoshī ràng wǒ dú le sān biàn kèwén.
The teacher made me read the text three times through.
这本书我看了一＿＿。
次 / 遍 · Whole book, beginning to end
Show the answer
这本书我看了一遍。
Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn le yí biàn.
I read this book through once.
我一个星期去三＿＿图书馆。
次 / 遍 · How often he visits a place
Show the answer
我一个星期去三次图书馆。
Wǒ yí gè xīngqī qù sān cì túshūguǎn.
I go to the library three times a week.
他今天打了两＿＿电话。
次 / 遍 · Counting separate calls
Show the answer
他今天打了两次电话。
Tā jīntiān dǎ le liǎng cì diànhuà.
He made two phone calls today.
这＿＿考试我考得不错。
次 / 遍 · Part of a word meaning this occasion
Show the answer
这次考试我考得不错。
Zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ kǎo de búcuò.
I did well on this exam.
医生说药一天吃三＿＿。
次 / 遍 · Frequency of taking medicine
Show the answer
医生说药一天吃三次。
Yīshēng shuō yào yì tiān chī sān cì.
The doctor says to take the medicine three times a day.
Key words 生词
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 次 | cì | time (occasion) | HSK 1 |
| 遍 | biàn | time (whole run) | HSK 2 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
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