Frequency adverbs express how often an action occurs, from "always" to "never."
Common Frequency Adverbs
100% Frequency
항상 (hangsang) - Always:
- 항상 일찍 일어나요 (I always wake up early)
- 항상 커피를 마셔요 (I always drink coffee)
언제나 (eonjena) - Always:
- 언제나 행복해요 (Always happy)
- 언제나 환영해요 (Always welcome)
- Slightly more emotional than 항상
늘 (neul) - Always:
- 늘 바빠요 (Always busy)
- 늘 그래요 (It's always like that)
- More casual/conversational
High Frequency
자주 (jaju) - Often/Frequently:
- 자주 운동해요 (I exercise often)
- 자주 만나요 (We meet frequently)
많이 (mani) - A lot/Much:
- 많이 먹어요 (I eat a lot)
- 많이 자요 (I sleep a lot)
- Can refer to frequency or amount
자주자주 (jajujaju) - Very often:
- 자주자주 연락해요 (Contact very often)
- Emphatic repetition
Medium Frequency
가끔 (gakkeum) - Sometimes/Occasionally:
- 가끔 영화를 봐요 (I sometimes watch movies)
- 가끔 늦어요 (I'm occasionally late)
때때로 (ttaettaero) - Sometimes/From time to time:
- 때때로 생각나요 (Sometimes I think about it)
- More formal than 가끔
종종 (jongjong) - Often/Sometimes:
- 종종 그곳에 가요 (I often go there)
- Between 자주 and 가끔
Low Frequency
가끔씩 (gakkeumssik) - Occasionally:
- 가끔씩 전화해요 (I call occasionally)
- Less frequent than 가끔
드물게 (deumulge) - Rarely:
- 드물게 일어나요 (It rarely happens)
- More formal
별로 (byeollo) - Not very often:
- 별로 안 먹어요 (I don't eat it very often)
- Always with negative
0% Frequency
전혀 (jeonhyeo) - Never/Not at all:
- 전혀 안 먹어요 (I don't eat it at all)
- 전혀 몰라요 (I don't know at all)
- Must use with negative
한 번도 (han beondo) - Never (not even once):
- 한 번도 안 가봤어요 (I've never been)
- 한 번도 못 먹어봤어요 (I've never eaten it)
- Emphasizes zero times
Frequency Scale
From Always to Never
100%: 항상, 언제나, 늘 80-90%: 자주, 많이 50-70%: 종종 30-40%: 가끔, 때때로 10-20%: 가끔씩, 드물게 0%: 전혀 (+ neg), 한 번도 (+ neg), 별로 (+ neg)
Position in Sentence
Before Verb
Most common position:
- 항상 운동해요 (Always exercise)
- 자주 만나요 (Meet often)
- 가끔 늦어요 (Sometimes late)
After Subject
Subject + Adverb + Verb:
- 저는 항상 일찍 일어나요 (I always wake up early)
- 친구들을 자주 만나요 (I often meet friends)
With Negative
Frequency + Negative
Some adverbs require negative:
- 별로 안 좋아해요 (Don't like it very much)
- 전혀 안 먹어요 (Don't eat it at all)
- 한 번도 안 가봤어요 (Have never been)
Negative Without Adverb
Simple negation:
- 안 가요 (Don't go)
- 못 먹어요 (Can't eat)
Common Patterns
Time Expressions + Frequency
매일 + 항상:
- 매일 항상 운동해요 (Always exercise every day)
주말에 + 가끔:
- 주말에 가끔 쉬어요 (Sometimes rest on weekends)
Frequency Comparisons
더 자주 (more often):
- 더 자주 연락해요 (Contact more often)
덜 자주 (less often):
- 요즘 덜 자주 봐요 (See less often these days)
Emphasis Patterns
Repetition for Emphasis
자주자주:
- 자주자주 만나요 (Meet very often)
늘 항상:
- 늘 항상 감사해요 (Always always grateful)
Intensifiers
아주 자주 (very often):
- 아주 자주 가요 (Go very often)
정말 가끔 (very occasionally):
- 정말 가끔만 먹어요 (Eat very occasionally)
Politeness Levels
Same Across Levels
Frequency adverbs don't change:
Formal: 항상 일찍 일어납니다 Polite: 항상 일찍 일어나요 Casual: 항상 일찍 일어나
Question Forms
Asking Frequency
얼마나 자주? (How often?):
- 얼마나 자주 운동해요? (How often do you exercise?)
- 자주 운동해요 (I exercise often)
자주? (Often?):
- 자주 만나요? (Do you meet often?)
Common Expressions
Daily Life
- 항상 바빠요 (Always busy)
- 자주 피곤해요 (Often tired)
- 가끔 쉬어요 (Sometimes rest)
- 전혀 안 바빠요 (Not busy at all)
Meetings
- 자주 만나요 (Meet often)
- 가끔 만나요 (Meet sometimes)
- 별로 안 만나요 (Don't meet very often)
- 한 번도 안 만났어요 (Never met)
Food
- 항상 먹어요 (Always eat it)
- 자주 먹어요 (Eat it often)
- 가끔 먹어요 (Sometimes eat it)
- 전혀 안 먹어요 (Don't eat it at all)
Special Notes
별로 Must Be Negative
Always with negative verb:
❌ 별로 좋아해요 ✅ 별로 안 좋아해요 (Don't like it very much)
전혀 Must Be Negative
Always with negative verb:
❌ 전혀 먹어요 ✅ 전혀 안 먹어요 (Don't eat it at all)
한 번도 Must Be Negative
Never (not even once):
❌ 한 번도 가요 ✅ 한 번도 안 가요 (Never go / Haven't gone even once)
Regional/Register Variations
Formal Alternatives
늘 → 항상:
- 늘 감사합니다 → 항상 감사합니다
가끔 → 때때로:
- More formal in writing
Casual Variations
매번 (every time):
- 매번 늦어요 (Late every time - casual complaint)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 전혀 좋아해요
Missing negative
✅ Correct: 전혀 안 좋아해요
전혀 requires negative
❌ Incorrect: 한 번도 가봤어요
Missing negative
✅ Correct: 한 번도 안 가봤어요
한 번도 requires negative
Summary Table
| Korean | Meaning | Frequency | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 항상 | always | 100% | 항상 해요 |
| 자주 | often | 80% | 자주 가요 |
| 종종 | sometimes | 60% | 종종 먹어요 |
| 가끔 | sometimes | 40% | 가끔 봐요 |
| 드물게 | rarely | 10% | 드물게 일어나요 |
| 별로 | not very | low | 별로 안 좋아해요 |
| 전혀 | never/not at all | 0% | 전혀 안 먹어요 |
| 한 번도 | never (not once) | 0% | 한 번도 안 가봤어요 |