p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Discord

往往

wǎngwǎng
adverb HSK 3 #6,745

Meanings

  1. 1 usually; often
  2. 2 more often than not; tend to

Characters

往
wǎng
toward; past
Reduplication of 往 intensifies the sense of regularity — things that tend to go a certain way.

Examples

他往往很晚才回家。
Tā wǎngwǎng hěn wǎn cái huí jiā.
He usually doesn't come home until very late.
成功往往需要很长时间。
Chénggōng wǎngwǎng xūyào hěn cháng shíjiān.
Success often takes a long time.
事情往往没有那么简单。
Shìqing wǎngwǎng méiyǒu nàme jiǎndān.
Things are usually not that simple.

Tips

usage
往往 implies a pattern based on experience or observation, not just frequency. Use it for 'things tend to be this way' rather than 'I often do X' (use 经常 for habitual actions).
grammar
往往 is placed before the verb and usually appears in statements about general truths, not specific one-time events.

Stroke Order

往 wǎng