often

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral
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Meaning: Frequently; many times; in many cases

经常,常常
a menudo, frecuentemente
よく、しばしば
자주, 종종

Often indicates frequency—something happens regularly but not always. It's more frequent than 'sometimes' but less than 'always'. 'More often than not' means usually. 'Every so often' means occasionally. 'As often as not' means about half the time.

「often」表示频率——某事经常发生但并非总是如此。它比「sometimes」更频繁,但不如「always」。「more often than not」表示通常。「every so often」表示偶尔。「as often as not」表示大约一半的时间。
«Often» indica frecuencia—algo sucede regularmente pero no siempre. Es más frecuente que «sometimes» pero menos que «always». «More often than not» significa generalmente. «Every so often» significa ocasionalmente. «As often as not» significa aproximadamente la mitad del tiempo.
「often」は頻度を示します—何かが定期的に起こりますが、常にではありません。「sometimes」より頻繁ですが、「always」ほどではありません。「more often than not」は通常を意味します。「every so often」は時々を意味します。「as often as not」は約半分の時間を意味します。
often은 빈도를 나타내며, 어떤 일이 규칙적으로 일어나지만 항상은 아님을 의미합니다. 'sometimes'보다 빈도가 높고 'always'보다는 낮습니다. 'More often than not'은 대개라는 뜻이고, 'every so often'은 가끔이라는 뜻이며, 'as often as not'은 절반 정도의 확률을 의미합니다.

Examples

  1. How often do you go to the gym?
    你多久去一次健身房?
    ¿Con qué frecuencia vas al gimnasio?
    どのくらいの頻度でジムに行きますか?
    얼마나 자주 헬스장에 가시나요?
  2. She often works late on Fridays.
    她经常周五加班。
    Ella a menudo trabaja hasta tarde los viernes.
    彼女はよく金曜日に遅くまで働きます。
    그녀는 금요일에 종종 늦게까지 일합니다.
  3. More often than not, the train is delayed.
    火车通常都会晚点。
    Más a menudo que no, el tren se retrasa.
    たいてい電車は遅れます。
    대부분의 경우 전철이 지연됩니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Middle English 'often', extended form of 'oft', from Old English 'oft' meaning 'frequently'. The 'en' ending was added by analogy with 'seldom'. The 't' in 'often' was originally silent (like in 'soften'), though many speakers now pronounce it — both are considered correct.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

More From This Topic

get ★★★★★ To obtain, receive, or come to have; to become like ★★★★★ To find agreeable or enjoyable; similar to; such as take ★★★★★ To reach for and hold; to carry or bring; to require because ★★★★★ For the reason that; since use ★★★★★ To employ for a purpose; the act of using something want ★★★★★ To have a desire for; to wish for something
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