Usage of 屡
The character 屡 (lǚ) is an adverb meaning "frequently" or "repeatedly." It is often used in formal or written Chinese to emphasize that an action or event happens many times, often with a sense of persistence or habitual occurrence.
Common Collocations
- 屡次 (lǚ cì): repeatedly, many times
- 屡获 (lǚ huò): repeatedly obtain (usually awards or honors)
- 屡试不爽 (lǚ shì bù shuǎng): tried many times without failure, very reliable
Usage Notes
When using 屡, it typically precedes verbs or verb phrases to highlight frequency. It carries a slightly formal tone and is more common in written language than in casual speech. It differs from 常 (cháng) or 经常 (jīngcháng) by emphasizing repeated occurrences often with a notable or sometimes negative connotation, such as repeated mistakes or warnings.
Avoid confusing 屡 with 频繁 (pínfán), which also means frequently but is more neutral and often used for events or actions that happen very often in a short time frame.
Summary
Use 屡 when you want to stress that something happens repeatedly over time, especially in formal contexts or when highlighting persistence or repeated outcomes.