A2 adverb Neutral 1 min read

往往

/wǎng wǎng/

Often, in most cases, usually implying a predictable outcome.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Indicates frequent occurrence or usual outcome.
  • Often implies a cause-and-effect relationship.
  • Used to describe patterns and tendencies.

Overview

“往往”是汉语中一个非常常用的副词,用来描述一种普遍存在的、经常发生的模式或趋势。它表明某件事情不是偶然发生的,而是因为某种原因或条件,在大多数情况下都会出现。这个词语的运用可以使表达更加精确和生动,帮助听者或读者理解事物的常态。

“往往”通常放在动词或形容词前面,用来修饰这个动词或形容词所描述的行为或状态。它可以用于描述人的行为习惯、自然现象的规律、社会发展的趋势等。例如,“天气热的时候,人们往往会出汗”;“他学习很刻苦,成绩往往很好”。它也可以用于表示一种推测,即根据过去的经验或观察,预测某事很可能会发生。

“往往”常出现在描述日常生活、社会现象、自然规律、个人习惯、学习工作等方面。在日常对话中,人们用它来谈论天气、饮食、交通、人际关系等;在新闻报道中,它可能被用来分析社会问题或经济趋势;在科普文章中,它可能用来描述动植物的习性或自然界的规律。例如:“节假日期间,高速公路往往会非常拥堵。”“压力大的时候,他往往会失眠。”

“常常”和“经常”与“往往”在表示频率上很接近,但“往往”更侧重于强调一种由原因导致的结果或一种规律性的现象。“常常”和“经常”更偏重于描述动作或事件发生的次数多,不一定包含“因为……所以……”的逻辑关系。例如,“他常常迟到”(指迟到的次数多),而“他最近工作压力大,往往会迟到”(指压力大这个原因导致了迟到这个结果,是一种规律)。“通常”与“往往”也很相似,但“通常”更侧重于表示一般情况或惯例,而“往往”则更强调一种必然性或规律性。

Examples

1

天气热的时候,人们往往会出汗。

everyday

When the weather is hot, people often sweat.

2

他做事很认真,项目往往能按时完成。

formal

He is very meticulous in his work, and projects are often completed on time.

3

一到周末,他就往往宅在家里看电影。

informal

As soon as the weekend arrives, he usually stays at home watching movies.

4

随着科技的发展,信息传播的速度往往越来越快。

academic

With the development of technology, the speed of information dissemination is often getting faster and faster.

Common Collocations

往往会 often will
往往是 is often
往往表明 often indicates

Common Phrases

往往如此

It is often so

往往会发生

often happens

往往表明

often indicates

Often Confused With

往往 vs 常常

'常常' (chángcháng) emphasizes frequency of action, meaning 'often' or 'frequently'. '往往' (wǎngwǎng) implies a predictable pattern or a usual outcome, often suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship.

往往 vs 经常

'经常' (jīngcháng) also means 'often' or 'frequently', similar to '常常'. It focuses on the high number of occurrences. '往往' carries a stronger sense of regularity and predictability, implying that something happens 'in most cases' due to certain conditions.

Grammar Patterns

主语 + 往往 + 动词/形容词 主语 + 往往 + 会 + 动词/形容词

How to Use It

Usage Notes

'往往' is a common adverb used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is generally neutral in terms of formality but leans slightly towards descriptive or analytical contexts. It's important to distinguish its nuanced meaning from simple frequency adverbs like '常常' or '经常'. Ensure the context implies a pattern or a usual result.


Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '往往' with adverbs of simple frequency like '常常' or '经常'. They might use '往往' when a simple statement of frequency is needed, or fail to capture the nuance of predictability that '往往' conveys. Avoid using '往往' for single, isolated events.

Tips

💡

Focus on Predictable Patterns

Use '往往' when describing things that happen regularly due to certain conditions or reasons.

⚠️

Avoid Overuse

While common, excessive use of '往往' might make sentences sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary.

🌍

Observing Habits and Trends

Chinese culture values observing patterns in nature and human behavior, making '往往' a useful tool for such observations.

Word Origin

The character '往' (wǎng) originally meant 'to go towards' or 'in the direction of'. '往' combined with '往' (a repetition for emphasis) or perhaps evolving from related concepts signifying direction and recurrence, came to denote a habitual or usual course of action or occurrence.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, observing patterns, cause-and-effect, and the cyclical nature of things is important. '往往' reflects this worldview by helping to articulate these observed regularities in behavior, nature, or society.

Memory Tip

Think of '往往' as 'way, way' often something happens, suggesting a long-standing pattern or a predictable path. It's the usual way things go.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“往往”更侧重于强调一种规律性或由原因导致的结果,表示在大多数情况下会发生。“常常”则更侧重于描述动作或事件发生的次数多,不一定包含逻辑关系。

“往往”主要用于肯定句,表示经常发生。虽然理论上可以用于否定句,但并不常见,且可能显得有些别扭。通常会用“不一定”、“不总是”等词语来表达否定。

可以。“往往”可以放在形容词前面,用来描述某种状态经常出现。例如:“夏天,天气往往很炎热。”

“往往”本身不带有强烈的感情色彩,它主要用于客观地描述事实、规律或趋势。但根据语境,它可能暗示一种无奈、肯定或其他情绪。

Test Yourself

fill blank

他学习非常努力,考试成绩______很好。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 往往

“往往”表示一种规律性的结果,努力学习通常会带来好成绩。

multiple choice

下列哪个句子正确使用了“往往”?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 冬天,北方往往很冷。

“冬天北方很冷”是一种普遍的、规律性的现象,符合“往往”的用法。

sentence building

请用“天气”、“变冷”、“带伞”组成句子。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 天气往往会变冷,所以要带伞。

这句话表明天气变冷是一种经常发生的现象(往往),并由此引出带伞的建议。

Score: /3

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!