Various ways to say “How often” in Chinese

The common expressions their uses in sentences

多久一次 (duō jiǔ yī cì)

Literally “how long once,” used to ask about the frequency of something happening over a period of time.

e.g.

你多久去一次健身房？(Nǐ duō jiǔ qù yī cì jiànshēnfáng?) How often do you go to the gym?

你们多久约会一次？(Nǐmen duō jiǔ yuēhuì yī cì?) How often do you go on dates?

她一般多久回一次老家？(Tā yībān duō jiǔ huí yī cì lǎojiā?) How often does she usually go back to her hometown?

多经常 (duō jīngcháng)

Literally “how often,” used to inquire about the regularity of an action.

e.g.

你多经常见到他们？(Nǐ duō jīngcháng jiàndào tāmen?) How often do you see them?

你们多经常一起吃饭？(ǐmen duō jīngcháng yīqǐ chīfàn?) How often do you eat together?

他们多经常去爬山？(Tāmen duō jīngcháng qù páshān?) How often do they go hiking?

多频繁 (duō pínfán)

“How frequently,” it’s used to ask about the rate of occurrence.

e.g.

这种情况发生得多频繁？(Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng fāshēng de duō pínfán?) How frequently does this situation occur?

他打孩子打得多频繁？(Tā dǎ háizi dǎ de duō pínfán?) How frequently does he spank the child?

你头疼多频繁？(Nǐ tóuténg duō pínfán?) How frequently do you get headaches?

多少次 (duōshǎo cì)

“How many times,” directly inquires about the count of occurrences within a given time frame.

e.g.

一年中你去海边多少次？(Yī nián zhōng nǐ qù hǎibiān duōshǎo cì?) How many times do you go to the beach in a year?

有了孩子以后，你一晚上醒来多少次？(Yǒu le háizi yǐhòu, nǐ yī wǎnshang xǐng lái duōshǎo cì?) After having a child, how many times do you wake up in the night?

你买过这家店多少次东西？(Nǐ mǎiguò zhè jiā diàn duōshǎo cì dōngxi?) How many times have you bought things from this store?