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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

Click a line to hear it, or loop it to shadow it.
  1. 0:07
  2. 0:23
  3. 0:48
  4. 1:03
  5. 1:18
  6. 1:36
  7. 1:51
  8. 2:05
  9. 2:23
  10. 2:37

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

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the 跟读 · Your turn pause.
  3. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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

ChinesePinyinEnglishLevel
次cìtime (occasion)HSK 1
遍biàntime (whole run)HSK 2
再zàiagainHSK 1

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