noun HSK 5
Traditional 頻率
pín
frequency · rate

Meaning

频率 refers to how often something occurs within a specific time period or the rate of repetition. In physics, it means the number of cycles per unit time (measured in Hertz). In everyday usage, it describes how frequently an event, action, or behavior happens.

Usage

Commonly used in both technical/scientific contexts (sound waves, radio frequencies) and everyday conversation (how often you exercise, eat certain foods, or do activities). Often paired with measure words like 次 or appears with 高/低 to indicate high/low frequency.

Examples

  1. 01
    这个词在日常对话中的使用频率很高。
    Zhège zài rìcháng duìhuà zhōng de shǐyòng pínlǜ hěn gāo.
    This word has a high frequency of use in daily conversation.
  2. 02
    医生建议我增加锻炼的频率
    Yīshēng jiànyì zēngjiā duànliàn de pínlǜ.
    The doctor suggested I increase the frequency of my exercise.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 频率
    pín gāo
    high frequency
  • 频率
    pín
    low frequency
  • 使用频率
    shǐ yòng pín
    frequency of use
  • 出现频率
    chū xiàn pín
    frequency of occurrence

Origin

频 originally meant 'shore' or 'bank' but evolved to mean 'frequent' through the idea of waves repeatedly hitting the shore. 率 means 'rate' or 'proportion'. Together they form the modern technical and colloquial term for frequency.

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