Verb Measure Words: Counting Times with 次 / 遍 / 下
Just as a noun needs a measure word to be counted, a verb needs one to count how many times it happens: Verb + Number + Measure Word. 看三次 (“watch three times”), 说一遍 (“say once through”), 拍两下 (“pat twice”). The three common ones differ: 次 counts occasions, 遍 counts complete run-throughs, 下 counts quick physical actions. A pronoun object comes before the count: 打了我三下.
Why this trips learners up
You know that a noun needs a measure word to be counted (三本书). A verb needs one too, to count how many times the action happens: Verb + Number + Measure Word. The good news is the position mirrors English, the count comes after the verb: 看三次 is “watch three times,” 说一遍 is “say it once through,” 拍两下 is “pat twice.” These are called verb measure words (动量词).
The part with no English equivalent is which one to use. English has a single word, “times,” but Chinese splits it into three with different jobs:
次 (cì) is the general “times,” counting occasions the action happened, and it's your safe default: 我们去过两次 (“we've been twice”), 我问了他很多次 (“I asked him many times”), 这个问题我们讨论过几次 (“we've discussed this a few times”). 遍 (biàn) means “times, all the way through,” a complete run from start to finish, so it's the one for reading, watching or saying something in full: 请再说一遍 (“say it once more, all the way through”), 这个电影我看过两遍 (“I've watched this film through twice”). 下 (xià) counts quick, light physical actions, taps, knocks, hits: 他轻轻地拍了我两下 (“he patted me lightly a couple of times”), 我敲了好几下 (“I knocked several times”).
One placement rule to lock in. When the object is a pronoun (你, 我, 他…), it comes before the count, not after: 他打了我三下 (“he hit me three times”), 我问了他很多次 (“I asked him many times”), never 他打了三下我. A full noun object usually sits after the count or is fronted as a topic (这个电影我看了三遍).
Last thing: to count times you must use a verb measure word, not a noun one. “We've been twice” is 我们去过两次, not 去过两个, 个 counts things, 次 counts occurrences of an action. Quick guide: default to 次; use 遍 when you mean the whole thing done through; use 下 for a quick tap or knock; and slot a pronoun object in front of the number.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
qǐng 请 Other zài 再 Adverb shuō 说 Verb yí 一 Number biàn 遍 Measure word
Please say it once more, all the way through (遍, a full run).
nǐ 你 Subject néng 能 Function word zài 再 Adverb dú 读 Verb yí 一 Number biàn 遍 Measure word ma 吗 Question
Could you read it through once more? (遍 + a question).
zhège diànyǐng 这个电影 Object wǒ 我 Subject kàn 看 Verb guo 过 Function word liǎng 两 Number biàn 遍 Measure word
I've watched this movie through twice (遍 with 过).
wǒmen 我们 Subject qù 去 Verb guo 过 Function word liǎng 两 Number cì 次 Measure word
We've been there twice (次 with 过).
wǒ 我 Subject wèn 问 Verb le 了 Function word tā 他 Object hěn duō 很多 Number cì 次 Measure word
I asked him many times (次, with a pronoun object before the count).
zhège wèntí 这个问题 Object wǒmen 我们 Subject tǎolùn 讨论 Verb guo 过 Function word jǐ 几 Number cì 次 Measure word
We've discussed this issue a few times (次 with 几).
tā 他 Subject qīngqīng de 轻轻地 Adverb pāi 拍 Verb le 了 Function word wǒ 我 Object liǎng 两 Number xià 下 Measure word
He patted me lightly a couple of times (下, a quick action, pronoun before the count).
nǐ méi tīngjiàn ma 你没听见吗 Other wǒ ，我 Subject qiāo 敲 Verb le 了 Function word hǎo jǐ 好几 Number xià 下 Measure word
Didn't you hear? I knocked several times (下 with 好几).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: The verb measure word goes after the verb, not before it, just like English “been three times.” “I've been three times” is 我去过三次, not 我三次去过. Put the verb first, then the number and measure word.
Why it happens: A pronoun object comes before the count, not after. “He hit me three times” is 他打了我三下, not 他打了三下我. The pronoun (我) sits right after the verb, then the number and measure word follow.
Why it happens: Counting times needs a verb measure word, not a noun one. “We've been twice” is 我们去过两次, not 我们去过两个. 个 counts things (两个杯子, “two cups”); 次 counts occurrences of an action.
Compare & contrast
| 次 (cì): times = separate occasions | 遍 (biàn): times = complete run-throughs | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 这个电影我看了三次zhège diànyǐng wǒ kàn le sān cì = “I watched this movie three times” (on three separate occasions) | 这个电影我看了三遍zhège diànyǐng wǒ kàn le sān biàn = “I watched this movie through three times” (the whole thing, start to finish, three times over) | 这个电影我看了三次 = “I watched this movie three times,” on three separate occasions. 这个电影我看了三遍 = “I watched it through three times,” the whole film start to finish, three times over. Occasions versus full run-throughs. |
| 请你说一次qǐng nǐ shuō yí cì = “please say it once” (one occasion of saying it) | 请你说一遍qǐng nǐ shuō yí biàn = “please say it once through” (all the way from start to finish) | 请你说一次 = “please say it once,” one occasion of saying it. 请你说一遍 = “please say it once through,” all the way from start to finish. 次 just counts; 遍 stresses the complete pass. |
Try it yourself
Say “He patted me twice.” The pronoun object goes before the count: 拍了我两下.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
Verb Measure Words: Counting Times with 次 / 遍 / 下 grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.