三番五次

• 병음: sān fān wǔ cì
• 한자 분석: 三 = three (rhetorical); 番 = 釆 (distinguish) + 田 (field) = a round/turn; 五 = five (rhetorical); 次 = 冫(ice/sequence) + 欠 (lacking) = in sequence, a time/instance

뜻

여러 번; 거듭해서

A set four-character idiom (成语). The numbers 三 and 五 are used rhetorically rather than literally. Typically used to describe repeated requests, warnings, reminders, or attempts that have not been heeded or have produced no result. Carries a tone of mild frustration. Common in everyday speech and writing.

예문

1. 上司三番五次地提醒他按时提交报告，他却总是以各种理由拖延，最终引发了严重的工作纠纷。
2. 我已经三番五次地向物业反映楼道灯损坏的问题，但至今仍未得到有效的处理和回复。
3. 孩子三番五次地向父母要求购买那款游戏机，父母最终决定在他取得优异成绩后给予奖励。

사용 가이드

맥락: interpersonal, complaints, emphasis, daily life

어조: frustrated

올바른 표현

• 她三番五次地就同一问题向主管提出申诉，却始终未能得到实质性的答复，最终决定通过法律途径维护自身权益。(She repeatedly raised the same issue in appeals to her supervisor but never received a substantive response, and ultimately decided to pursue her rights through legal channels.)
• 老师三番五次地强调考试诚信的重要性，希望同学们能够真正将这一原则内化为自身的行为准则。(The teacher emphasised the importance of academic integrity time and again, hoping students would genuinely internalise this principle as a personal code of conduct.)

피해야 할 표현

• 他三番五次地吃了三碗饭 — 三番五次 is used for repeated actions over time, not to count discrete quantities; use 吃了好几碗 for eating multiple servings

기원과 역사

A classical Chinese idiom using 三 (three) and 五 (five) as rhetorical numbers to express plurality and repetition — 'three rounds, five times' — implying many repeated occurrences. Similar to the English 'time and again.'

문화적 배경

세대: All ages

사회적 배경: Universal