Frequency Adverbs: 重新, 经常, 老, 总是, 又
频率、重复副词：重新、经常、老、总是、又
Express how often actions happen and describe repeated actions
Place the frequency or repetition adverb before the verb. These adverbs tell the listener how often something happens or whether it is happening again.
经常, 老, and 总是 describe habitual frequency. 又 marks a repeated past action. 重新 means doing something over again from scratch.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Frequency Adverbs: 重新, 经常, 老, 总是, 又 (频率、重复副词：重新、经常、老、总是、又)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 频率、重复副词：重新、经常、老、总是、又 pattern
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Understanding 频率、重复副词：重新、经常、老、总是、又
How often does it happen? Is it happening again? These adverbs answer those questions. 经常 (often) is your neutral, everyday frequency word — 我经常去那个餐厅 (I often go to that restaurant). 总是 (always) is stronger — it says something happens every single time, sometimes with mild annoyance: 他总是迟到 (He is always late). 老 is the colloquial version of 总是 — it is very common in spoken Chinese and often carries frustration: 你怎么老忘记？(Why do you always forget?). 又 means "again" for something that already happened — 他又迟到了 (He was late again). 重新 means to do something over from the beginning — 重新写 means to rewrite it completely, starting fresh.
Key Points
- 经常 (jīngcháng) = often / frequently — neutral habitual action.
- 总是 (zǒngshì) = always — every time, sometimes with mild complaint.
- 老 (lǎo) = always — colloquial, often implies annoyance: 老忘记 (always forgetting).
- 又 (yòu) = again (past) — the action already repeated: 他又来了 (He came again).
- 重新 (chóngxīn) = again / anew / from scratch — starting over completely.
- 又 vs. 再: 又 is for past repetition (already happened), 再 is for future repetition (will happen again).
- 老 is informal — avoid it in formal writing. Use 总是 instead.
- 重新 implies the previous attempt was unsatisfactory: 重新做 = redo it (the first try was not good enough).
Chinese parents are famous for using 老 and 总是 when scolding: 你怎么老是不听话？(Why do you never listen?). If you hear these words from a Chinese friend, they are comfortable enough with you to speak frankly — it is actually a sign of closeness.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我经常去公园跑步。
I often go jogging in the park.
他总是迟到。
He is always late.
Mild complaint
你怎么老忘记带钥匙？
Why do you always forget to bring your keys?
Colloquial, implies frustration
他又迟到了。
He was late again.
这篇文章写得不好，请重新写。
This essay is not well written — please rewrite it.
她经常帮助别人。
She often helps others.
天又下雨了。
It is raining again.
Past repetition — it already started raining
Common Mistakes
The lateness already happened (past), so use 又. 再 is for future repetition: 不要再迟到了 (Do not be late again).
For a request about future action, use 重新 (start over) or 再 (do it again). 又 cannot be used for requests — it only describes past events.
老 as "always" typically implies annoyance or complaint. For positive continuous states, use 一直 or 总是.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The 又 vs. 再 distinction is one of the most tested grammar points — 又 = already happened, 再 = will happen.
Use 老 to sound natural in spoken Chinese: 我老是忘记 sounds much more native than 我总是忘记.
重新 is powerful for fresh starts: 重新开始 (start over), 重新考虑 (reconsider), 重新做人 (turn over a new leaf).
When complaining about habits, stack 老是: 他老是这样 (He is always like this).
Homework
Write about someone's habits — good and bad. Use 经常 for neutral habits, 总是/老 for annoying habits, 又 for something that just happened again, and 重新 for something someone had to redo.