bù cháng: 不常 - Not Often, Seldom, Infrequently

• Keywords: 不常, bù cháng, not often in Chinese, seldom in Chinese, infrequently, rarely, Chinese adverb of frequency, how to say seldom in Chinese, 不常 vs 很少, Mandarin grammar.
• Summary: Learn how to use 不常 (bù cháng), the essential Chinese adverb meaning 'not often,' 'seldom,' or 'infrequently.' This guide breaks down its meaning, provides practical example sentences for daily conversation, and clarifies the subtle differences between 不常 and similar words like 很少 (hěn shǎo). Perfect for beginner to intermediate learners looking to master adverbs of frequency in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù cháng
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Not happening with high frequency; not often.
• In a Nutshell: 不常 (bù cháng) is a straightforward adverb used to describe actions that don't happen frequently. It is the direct negation of “often” (常 or 常常). Think of it as the direct equivalent of “not often” or “seldom” in English. It's used to express that an event or activity is an occasional or rare occurrence, but not necessarily “never.”

• 不 (bù): The most common negative particle in Chinese, meaning “not” or “no.” It's used to negate verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
• 常 (cháng): This character means “often,” “frequently,” or “common.” It's part of words like 常常 (chángcháng) (often) and 平常 (píngcháng) (usually, ordinary).
• Combined Meaning: The logic here is simple and direct. Putting 不 (not) + 常 (often) together literally means “not often.” This makes it one of the easier Chinese words for learners to remember and understand.

While 不常 (bù cháng) itself doesn't carry deep cultural weight like concepts of `face` or `guanxi`, its usage reflects a certain linguistic precision common in Mandarin. In English, it's common to use hyperbole for effect. Someone might say, “I never go to that part of town,” when they really mean they go very infrequently. In Chinese, while exaggeration exists, using a precise term like 不常 is very common and clear. It's a neutral, factual statement about frequency without the emotional emphasis that “never” or “always” might carry in English. Using 不常 rather than a stronger term like 从来不 (cónglái bù - never) can also be a way of being polite or leaving possibilities open. For example, if asked whether you eat a certain food you dislike, saying “我不常吃” (I don't eat it often) is softer and less final than “我从来不吃” (I never eat it).

不常 is an extremely common adverb in daily spoken Mandarin. It's used to talk about habits, routines, and the frequency of any action.

• Talking about Habits: You'll use it constantly when discussing what you do and don't do regularly. For example, “I don't often drink coffee” (我不常喝咖啡) or “I don't often watch TV” (我不常看电视).
• Formality: It is neutral in formality. It's perfectly suitable for casual conversations with friends, as well as in more formal settings like a business meeting or a doctor's appointment.
• Placement: As an adverb, it is placed directly before the verb it modifies. For example, 我 不常 去 (I not often go).

• Example 1:
  • 我不常去那个商场，因为它离我家太远了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù cháng qù nàge shāngchǎng, yīnwèi tā lí wǒ jiā tài yuǎn le.
  • English: I don't go to that mall often because it's too far from my home.
  • Analysis: A simple, common use of 不常 to explain the frequency of visiting a place. The reason is given in the second clause.
• Example 2:
  • 他不常在外面吃饭，他更喜欢自己做饭。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù cháng zài wàimiàn chīfàn, tā gèng xǐhuān zìjǐ zuòfàn.
  • English: He doesn't eat out often; he prefers to cook himself.
  • Analysis: This sentence contrasts two habits. 不常 is used to describe the infrequent action (eating out).
• Example 3:
  • 我们不常见面，但我们的关系还是很好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù cháng jiànmiàn, dàn wǒmen de guānxì háishì hěn hǎo.
  • English: We don't see each other often, but our relationship is still very good.
  • Analysis: Here, 不常 describes the frequency of meeting, showing it can be used for interpersonal actions.
• Example 4:
  • 这里冬天不常下雪，所以孩子们看到雪会很兴奋。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ dōngtiān bù cháng xià xuě, suǒyǐ háizimen kàn dào xuě huì hěn xīngfèn.
  • English: It doesn't often snow here in winter, so the children get very excited when they see snow.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 不常 to talk about weather patterns or natural phenomena.
• Example 5:
  • 我奶奶不常用智能手机，她觉得太复杂了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nǎinai bù cháng yòng zhìnéng shǒujī, tā juéde tài fùzá le.
  • English: My grandma doesn't use a smartphone often; she thinks it's too complicated.
  • Analysis: A great example of talking about someone else's habits, particularly regarding technology.
• Example 6:
  • 你是不是不常运动？看你好像没什么精神。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bùshì bù cháng yùndòng? Kàn nǐ hǎoxiàng méishénme jīngshén.
  • English: Is it that you don't exercise often? You don't seem to have much energy.
  • Analysis: Shows how 不常 can be embedded in a question, here using the “是不是” (shì bùshì) structure.
• Example 7:
  • 他是个很内向的人，不常在大家面前表达自己的感情。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge hěn nèixiàng de rén, bù cháng zài dàjiā miànqián biǎodá zìjǐ de gǎnqíng.
  • English: He is a very introverted person and doesn't often express his feelings in front of everyone.
  • Analysis: This example links a personality trait (introverted) to an infrequent action (expressing feelings).
• Example 8:
  • 这种现象不常发生，但一旦发生，影响会很大。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng xiànxiàng bù cháng fāshēng, dàn yīdàn fāshēng, yíngxiǎng huì hěn dà.
  • English: This phenomenon doesn't happen often, but once it does, the impact is huge.
  • Analysis: A more formal example, discussing the frequency of a “phenomenon” (现象).
• Example 9:
  • 我不常吃辣的，因为我的胃不太好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù cháng chī là de, yīnwèi wǒ de wèi bù tài hǎo.
  • English: I don't often eat spicy food because my stomach isn't very good.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence for talking about dietary habits and preferences.
• Example 10:
  • 以前我不常看书，但现在我爱上了阅读。
  • Pinyin: Yǐqián wǒ bù cháng kàn shū, dàn xiànzài wǒ ài shàng le yuèdú.
  • English: Before, I didn't often read books, but now I have fallen in love with reading.
  • Analysis: This shows how to use 不常 to describe a past habit that has since changed.

• 不常 (bù cháng) vs. 很少 (hěn shǎo): This is the most important distinction for learners.
  • 不常 (bù cháng): Means “not often.” It's a neutral statement about a lack of high frequency. If you go to the gym once a month, you could say “我不常去健身房.”
  • 很少 (hěn shǎo): Means “rarely” or “seldom.” It implies an even lower frequency than 不常. It emphasizes how infrequent the action is. If you go to the gym once a year, “我很少去健身房” would be more appropriate.
  • In short: 很少 is stronger and implies less frequency than 不常.
• Incorrect Placement: A common mistake for beginners is placing the adverb after the verb.
  • Incorrect: 我去不常电影院。(Wǒ qù bù cháng diànyǐngyuàn.)
  • Correct: 我不常去电影院。(Wǒ bù cháng qù diànyǐngyuàn.)
  • Rule: Adverbs of frequency like 不常 almost always come before the verb.
• Use with Actions, Not States of Being: You can't be “not often” something. It must describe an action.
  • Incorrect: 他不常高。(Tā bù cháng gāo.) - He is not often tall.
  • Correct: 他不常生病。(Tā bù cháng shēngbìng.) - He doesn't get sick often.

• Antonyms (More Frequent):
  • 常常 (chángcháng) - “Often, frequently.” The direct opposite.
  • 经常 (jīngcháng) - “Frequently, regularly.” A very close synonym of 常常.
  • 总是 (zǒngshì) - “Always.” Indicates 100% frequency.
• Synonyms / Related (Less Frequent):
  • 很少 (hěn shǎo) - “Rarely, seldom.” Implies even less frequency than 不常.
  • 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr) - “Occasionally, once in a while.” Describes something that does happen, but irregularly and not often.
  • 从来不 (cónglái bù) - “Never.” The absolute negation of frequency.
• Other Related Frequency Words:
  • 有时 (yǒushí) - “Sometimes.” More frequent than 偶尔.
  • 平常 (píngcháng) - “Usually, ordinarily, normally.” Describes the typical situation.
  • 一般 (yībān) - “Generally, normally.” Similar to 平常.