偶尔 ǒu'ěr occasionally
occasionally; once in a while; sometimes
How to remember 偶尔: 偶 accidentally + 尔 you = occasionally.
Characters
How it is used
- Occasionally / once in a while - 我偶尔喝咖啡 (wǒ ǒu'ěr hē kāfēi) I drink coffee now and then.
- An adverb marking low frequency; sits before the verb.
- Contrast 有时候 (yǒu shíhou) 'sometimes' (moderate frequency) and 经常 (jīngcháng) 'often'; 偶尔 is rarer, exceptional occasions.
Example sentences
- 我们偶尔见面 Wǒmen ǒu'ěr jiànmiàn.We see each other once in a while.
- 它偶尔会发生。 Tā ǒuěr huì fāshēng.It happens occasionally.
- 他喜欢偶尔去海边。 Tā xǐhuān ǒuěr qù hǎibiān.He likes to go to the beach now and then.