Skip to content
HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 6 min read

Counting Times with 次: 去过两次

Say how many times you did something with verb + number + 次, and put the object in the right place.

Pattern

verb (+ 了/过) + number + 次 (+ object); verb + pronoun + number + 次

次 counts actions, not things: 两个 is two items, 两次 is two times.

这个电影我看了三次。

When to use Counting Times with 次: 去过两次

次 is a measure word for actions: it says how many times something happens. Put number + 次 after the verb (and after 了 or 过): 去过两次 “have been twice”, 看了三次 “watched three times”. A place or thing as the object can go after 次 or before the number: 去过两次北京 and 去过北京两次 are both fine. A pronoun object like 他 always comes first: 找过他两次.

我去过两次北京。

I’ve been to Beijing twice.

我给他打了两次电话。

I called him twice.

我找过他一次。

I went looking for him once. (pronoun before the count)

下次再来！

Come again next time!

Common traps

  • Put number + 次 after the verb, not before it: say 我去过三次, not 我三次去过.
  • With a pronoun, the pronoun comes first: say 我见过他两次, not 我见过两次他.
  • Don’t count actions with 个: say 去了两次, not 去了两个.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我去过北京两 。

I have been to Beijing twice
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

How we make our content