measure word / adverb HSK 2
one time · once · one occurrence
Meaning
一次 means 'one time' or 'once' and is used to count occurrences or instances of actions or events. It combines 一 (one) with 次 (time/occurrence), forming a very common pattern in Mandarin for expressing frequency.
Usage
Native speakers use 一次 constantly in everyday conversation to indicate doing something once or to count single instances. It's natural in both casual and formal contexts. Often appears in patterns like '再...一次' (one more time) or '第一次' (the first time).
Examples
- 01我去过北京一次。.I've been to Beijing once.
- 02请再说一次，我没听清楚。, .Please say it again, I didn't hear clearly.
Characters
Common collocations
- 试一次try once
- 去一次go once
- 再说一次say it again
- 只有一次only once
Antonyms
Origin
次 originally meant 'order' or 'sequence' in Classical Chinese and evolved to mean 'time' or 'occurrence' as a measure word. Combined with 一, it forms the basic unit for counting events.