How to Say “How often?” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 3
"How often?" in Chinese is 多久一次？ (duō jiǔ yī cì?). Chinese has no single word for 'often' as a question; you literally ask '长/久 (how long) + 一次 (one time)'. 多久一次 is the most natural spoken form.
Primary translation
多久一次？
duō jiǔ yī cì?
Variants by register
Formal
多长时间一次？
duō cháng shí jiān yī cì?
Casual
多久一次？
duō jiǔ yī cì?
When to use it
Chinese has no single word for 'often' as a question; you literally ask '长/久 (how long) + 一次 (one time)'. 多久一次 is the most natural spoken form. 多长时间一次 sounds slightly more precise and common in writing or medical/official contexts ('how often do you take this medicine?'). Answers use the pattern [time period] + 一次: 一星期一次 (once a week), 每天一次 (once a day). Tone tip: 一 here changes tone based on what follows; before 次 (fourth tone) it becomes yí.
Example sentences
你多久运动一次？
Nǐ duō jiǔ yùn dòng yī cì?
How often do you exercise?
这个药多长时间吃一次？
Zhè ge yào duō cháng shí jiān chī yī cì?
How often should I take this medicine?
我一个月去一次健身房。
Wǒ yí ge yuè qù yí cì jiàn shēn fáng.
I go to the gym once a month.