lǚcì: 屡次 - Repeatedly, Time and Again

• Keywords: 屡次 meaning, luci Chinese, how to use 屡次, repeatedly in Chinese, again and again in Chinese, Chinese adverbs, 屡次 vs 多次, 屡次 vs 常常, Chinese grammar, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of the Chinese adverb 屡次 (lǚcì), which translates to “repeatedly” or “time and again.” This comprehensive guide explains how to use 屡次 in sentences, breaks down its characters, and explores its formal and often negative connotations. Learn the key differences between 屡次 and similar words like 多次 (duōcì) and 常常 (chángcháng) to use it accurately and naturally.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǚ cì
• Part of Speech: Adverb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: On several occasions; repeatedly; time and again.
• In a Nutshell: 屡次 (lǚcì) is a formal adverb used to describe an action that has happened over and over again on separate occasions. It emphasizes a recurring pattern, which often carries a negative or critical tone, like pointing out a repeated mistake or failure. While it can be used neutrally or positively in formal contexts (like winning an award multiple times), it's most commonly associated with things you wish wouldn't happen again.

• 屡 (lǚ): This character's core meaning is “repeatedly” or “frequently.” It signifies an action or event that occurs again and again, forming a pattern.
• 次 (cì): This character means “time” or “occurrence” in the sense of a sequence (e.g., 第一次 - dì yī cì, the first time). It acts as a measure word for actions.
• Together, 屡次 (lǚcì) literally means “repeated times.” The combination strengthens the idea that an action didn't just happen a lot, but it happened on multiple distinct occasions, one after another.

While 屡次 itself isn't a deep cultural concept, its usage reflects a common focus in Chinese culture on observing patterns of behavior. Using 屡次 is a powerful way to point out that a specific action is not a one-time accident but a recurring issue. This can be important in evaluating someone's character, reliability, or competence. In Western culture, you might say, “He's made that mistake before,” and then later say, “He did it again.” Using a word like 屡次 is like collapsing that entire history of observation into a single, impactful adverb. It implies, “I've been keeping track, and this has happened time and again.” This can be used to express exasperation (with a child who repeatedly disobeys) or formal condemnation (in a news report about a company that has repeatedly violated regulations).

• Formality: 屡次 is considered more formal than its common counterparts like 常常 (chángcháng) or 多次 (duōcì). You are more likely to encounter it in written Chinese, news articles, formal speeches, or serious discussions than in casual, everyday conversation.
• Connotation (Mostly Negative): The most common usage of 屡次 has a negative or critical connotation. It's the perfect word to describe recurring problems, mistakes, failures, or warnings.
  • Negative: 他屡次无视我们的警告。 (Tā lǚcì wúshì wǒmen de jǐnggào.) - He repeatedly ignored our warnings.
  • Neutral/Formal: 这位科学家屡次获奖。 (Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā lǚcì huòjiǎng.) - This scientist has repeatedly won awards. (Here, it's formal and emphasizes the prestigious pattern of winning).

• Example 1:
  • 他因为屡次犯同样的错误而被解雇了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi lǚcì fàn tóngyàng de cuòwù ér bèi jiěgù le.
  • English: He was fired for repeatedly making the same mistake.
  • Analysis: This is a classic negative usage. 屡次 highlights that the mistakes formed a pattern, which was the direct cause for his dismissal.
• Example 2:
  • 尽管屡次失败，他仍然没有放弃希望。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn lǚcì shībài, tā réngrán méiyǒu fàngqì xīwàng.
  • English: Despite repeated failures, he still hasn't given up hope.
  • Analysis: Here, 屡次 emphasizes the scale of the challenge he faced. The focus is on his perseverance in the face of a recurring negative outcome.
• Example 3:
  • 老师屡次提醒我们考试前要复习。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī lǚcì tíxǐng wǒmen kǎoshì qián yào fùxí.
  • English: The teacher repeatedly reminded us to review before the exam.
  • Analysis: This usage is more neutral and formal. It emphasizes the teacher's diligence and the importance of the reminder.
• Example 4:
  • 该公司因屡次违反环保法规而受到重罚。
  • Pinyin: Gāi gōngsī yīn lǚcì wéifǎn huánbǎo fǎguī ér shòudào zhòngfá.
  • English: That company received a heavy fine for repeatedly violating environmental regulations.
  • Analysis: A very common context for 屡次 is in formal, official reports about rule-breaking. It establishes a clear pattern of misconduct.
• Example 5:
  • 我已经屡次跟他说过，但他就是不听。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng lǚcì gēn tā shuōguo, dàn tā jiùshì bù tīng.
  • English: I've already told him time and again, but he just won't listen.
  • Analysis: This example shows personal exasperation. 屡次 conveys the speaker's frustration with a recurring problem.
• Example 6:
  • 我们的团队屡次尝试，终于找到了解决方案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de tuánduì lǚcì chángshì, zhōngyú zhǎodào le jiějué fāng'àn.
  • English: Our team tried repeatedly and finally found a solution.
  • Analysis: In this context, 屡次 highlights the team's persistent efforts leading to a positive outcome. It's neutral but shows the difficulty of the process.
• Example 7:
  • 这位运动员屡次打破世界纪录。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi yùndòngyuán lǚcì dǎpò shìjiè jìlù.
  • English: This athlete has repeatedly broken the world record.
  • Analysis: A clear positive and formal usage. It's fitting for describing significant, repeated achievements in a formal context like sports news.
• Example 8:
  • 系统今天屡次出现故障，影响了我们的工作。
  • Pinyin: Xìtǒng jīntiān lǚcì chūxiàn gùzhàng, yǐngxiǎngle wǒmen de gōngzuò.
  • English: The system has repeatedly malfunctioned today, affecting our work.
  • Analysis: Used to describe a recurring technical problem. It implies distinct instances of failure rather than a continuous state of being broken.
• Example 9:
  • 历史上，这个国家屡次成功地抵御了外来入侵。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shàng, zhège guójiā lǚcì chénggōng de dǐyùle wàilái rùqīn.
  • English: Historically, this country has repeatedly and successfully resisted foreign invasions.
  • Analysis: Used in a formal, historical context to describe a recurring pattern of events over a long period.
• Example 10:
  • 他屡次申请签证，但都被拒绝了。
  • Pinyin: Tā lǚcì shēnqǐng qiānzhèng, dàn dōu bèi jùjué le.
  • English: He repeatedly applied for a visa, but was rejected every time.
  • Analysis: This highlights a pattern of repeated action meeting with repeated negative results.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 屡次 with other words that mean “often” or “many times.”

• 屡次 (lǚcì) vs. 多次 (duōcì - many times):
  • 屡次 emphasizes a *pattern* of repetition, and is more formal and often negative. It implies “on one occasion, and then again, and then again…”
  • 多次 is a more neutral, factual statement that something happened “more than a few times.” It's less formal and very common.
  • Context: 我警告了他多次。 (Wǒ jǐnggào le tā duōcì.) - “I warned him many times.” (A neutral fact).
  • Context: 我屡次警告他，他都不听。 (Wǒ lǚcì jǐnggào tā, tā dōu bù tīng.) - “I repeatedly warned him, but he wouldn't listen.” (Emphasizes the pattern and the speaker's frustration).
• 屡次 (lǚcì) vs. 常常 (chángcháng) / 经常 (jīngcháng - often):
  • 常常/经常 describe general habits or high frequency. They answer the question “How often?”
  • 屡次 describes distinct, countable instances of a specific action. It's not used for general habits.
  • Incorrect: 我屡次喝咖啡。 (Wǒ lǚcì hē kāfēi.) - This sounds very strange, as if drinking coffee is a recurring incident.
  • Correct: 我常常喝咖啡。 (Wǒ chángcháng hē kāfēi.) - “I often drink coffee.”

• 多次 (duōcì) - Many times; a more neutral and common synonym for “repeatedly.”
• 再三 (zàisān) - Again and again; emphasizes earnestness, often used with requests, reminders, or pleas (e.g., 再三请求 - to plead again and again).
• 一再 (yīzài) - Time and again, repeatedly; similar to 再三, it stresses that an action (like emphasizing a point or making a promise) is repeated to show its importance.
• 反复 (fǎnfù) - Over and over, repeatedly; often implies a back-and-forth process, like反复思考 (to think something over and over) or 反复修改 (to revise repeatedly).
• 常常 (chángcháng) - Often, frequently; a common adverb for habits, used in informal and spoken Chinese.
• 经常 (jīngcháng) - Often, frequently; a slightly more formal version of 常常.
• 失败 (shībài) - To fail, failure; a verb commonly paired with 屡次, as in 屡次失败 (to fail repeatedly).
• 警告 (jǐnggào) - To warn, warning; another verb often used with 屡次.
• 尝试 (chángshì) - To attempt, to try; can be combined to mean 屡次尝试 (to try repeatedly).
• 违反 (wéifǎn) - To violate, to transgress; often seen in formal contexts like 屡次违反规定 (to repeatedly violate regulations).