次 (cì)
“次” is a classifier that indicates the number of times an action is performed. It emphasizes the frequency of the action rather than the completeness of the process. “次” can be used to count instances of actions or events, whether they are completed or not.
e.g.
我们见了两次面，吃了一次饭。(Wǒmen jiànle liǎng cì miàn, chīle yī cì fàn.) We met twice and had a meal once.
他已经来过三次了。(Tā yǐjīng láiguò sān cì le.) He has already come three times.
每次考试都很紧张。(Měi cì kǎoshì dōu hěn jǐnzhāng.) Every time there’s an exam, I feel nervous.
一次事故 (Yī cì shìgù) An accident
一次检查 (Yī cì jiǎnchá) A check-up
遍 (biàn)
“遍” is a classifier used to indicate that an action is completed from start to finish. It focuses on the thoroughness and the entire process of the action, not just how many times it occurred.
e.g.
请读一遍课文。(Qǐng dú yī biàn kèwén.) Please read the text through once.
他把书看了三遍。(Tā bǎ shū kànle sān biàn.) He read the book three times from start to finish.
这首歌我听了好多遍。(Zhè shǒu gē wǒ tīngle hǎo duō biàn.) I’ve listened to this song many times (from beginning to end).
你可以再说一遍吗？(Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yī biàn ma?) Could you please say it again (from start to finish)?
每一遍练习都很重要。(Měi yī biàn liànxí dōu hěn zhòngyào.) Every repetition of the practice is important.
Summary
“次” (cì) is used to count the number of occurrences, regardless of whether the action was completed. “遍” (biàn) is used to emphasize the completion of the entire process of an action, from beginning to end.
Exercise
