次

• Pinyin: cì
• Hanzi breakdown: 次 = 冫 (ice radical) + 欠 (yawn, phonetic) — next in sequence, occurrence

Meaning

Time; occurrence. A measure word for counting the number of times an action happens.

The most common measure word for counting occurrences of actions: 一次 (once), 两次 (twice), 三次 (three times). Placed after the number: 去了三次 (went three times). Also used in ordinal contexts: 第一次 (the first time). A fundamental measure word in daily Chinese.

Examples

1. 我去过两次北京。 I've been to Beijing twice.
2. 这是我第一次来中国。 This is my first time in China.
3. 请再说一次。 Please say it one more time.

Usage Guide

Context: counting, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你去过几次？(How many times have you been?)
• 下次我请你吃饭。(Next time I'll treat you to a meal.)

Don't Say

• 一次人 to count people (次 counts occurrences of actions, not people — use 个 for people)

Origin & History

Composed of 冫 (ice radical) and 欠 (to yawn, phonetic). The original meaning was 'to be next in line' or 'secondary', which extended to counting sequential occurrences.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal