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cì
次
🔁Essential
HSK 3

📘 Intermediate — key word for HSK 3-4

Meaning

Classifier for occurrences, times, or frequency of actions.

🏮 Cultural Story

中文 Chinese

"次"最通用的时间和次数量词。"第一次"、"一次"、"三次"——任何发生的事件都用"次"计数。vs"下"："次"强调发生的次数（可重复事件），"下"强调具体动作（通常有肢体运动）。"次"也有"顺序"含义（"次序"=order，"次日"=next day，"次品"=defective product）。"次"感觉比较正式客观。

English

**次 (cì)** = most universal counter for occurrences/times. First time, one time, three times — any event. vs 下: 次 = occurrence count (repeatable), 下 = physical actions. 次 also = "order/sequence" (次序, 次日, 次品). More formal and objective.

🎯 次 = occurrence/time. How many times did it happen?

💡 Memory Tip

次 is for how many times something happens. 'I've been there 3 times' = 三次.

Examples

去一次
qù yī cì
go once
第一次
dì yī cì
the first time
三次机会
sān cì jī huì
three chances

Common Nouns Used With

机会jī huìopportunity / chance
会议huì yìmeeting
考试kǎo shìexam / test
旅行lǚ xíngtravel / trip
约会yuē huìdate / appointment
尝试cháng shìattempt / try

Related Measure Words

场 chǎng番 fān阵 zhèn

Video Examples

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🔁HSK 3
次
cì

Classifier for occurrences, times, or frequency of actions.

去一次
qù yī cì
go once
Learn more at
chinesemeasurewords.com