常

• Pinyin: cháng
• Hanzi breakdown: 常 = 尚 (phonetic) + 巾 (cloth) — originally a garment, extended to 'constant, often'

Meaning

Often; frequently. An adverb indicating something happens on a regular basis.

Slightly more literary than 常常 but used interchangeably in everyday speech. Placed before verbs: 常来 (often come), 常去 (often go). Also appears in compounds like 平常 (usually), 正常 (normal), and 非常 (very).

Examples

1. 他常来我家。 He often comes to my home.
2. 我常在这里吃饭。 I often eat here.
3. 她常和朋友一起去公园。 She often goes to the park with friends.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, frequency

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你常去那里吗？(Do you go there often?)
• 我们常见面。(We meet often.)

Don't Say

• 常常常 tripled for extra emphasis (Don't triple it — use 经常 or 总是 for stronger emphasis)

Origin & History

Originally composed of 尚 (still, phonetic) and 巾 (cloth). The ancient meaning was a type of lower garment, which was extended to 'constant' and 'frequent' because clothing is worn regularly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal