▎往往, wǎngwǎng, (Adv), usually, tend to

 

Function The adverb 往往 refers to the common and routine occurrence of something, relating to the subject.

1 我緊張的時候，往往會說不出話來。

Wǒ jǐnzhāng de shíhòu, wǎngwǎng huì shuōbùchū huà lái.

Whenever I get nervous, I tend to have trouble speaking.

2 跟能力比自己好的人一起工作往往會有壓力。

Gēn nénglì bǐ zìjǐ hǎo de rén yìqǐ gōngzuò wǎngwǎng huì yǒu yālì.

It’s usually stressful working with people who are more capable than you.

3 對別人說出「對不起」往往是最難的。

Duì biérén shuōchū ‘duìbùqǐ’ wǎngwǎng shì zuì nán de.

Saying sorry tends to be the hardest part.

4 每年的新年，我父母往往會帶我們回老家跟平常不常見面的親戚拜年。

Měi nián de xīnnián, wǒ fùmǔ wǎngwǎng huì dài wǒmen huí lǎojiā gēn píngcháng bù cháng jiànmiàn de qīnqī bàinián.

Whenever the New Year comes around, my parents usually take us back to our hometown to celebrate with relatives.

5 有一句話說，快樂的時候如果不小心一點，往往就會有倒楣的事發生。

Yǒu yí jù huà shuō, kuàilè de shíhòu rúguǒ bù xiǎoxīn yìdiǎn, wǎngwǎng jiù huì yǒu dǎoméi de shì fāshēng.

As the saying goes, if you’re not careful, extreme joy can beget sorrow.

 

Usage 往往 vs. 常常

(1) 往往 and 常常 are often used interchangeably, e.g.,

我跟朋友聊天，往往/常常聊到很晚。

Wǒ gēn péngyǒu liáotiān, wǎngwǎng/chángcháng liáo dào hěn wǎn.

When I chat with friends, more often than not/often, we chat until late.

(2) 常常 denotes high frequency, and can be used referring to past, present, or future instances, whereas 往往 cannot be used in reference to future instances, e.g.,

我到了美國以後會常常(＊往往)給你打電話。

Wǒ dàole Měiguó yǐhòu huì chángcháng (＊wǎngwǎng) gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.

After I arrive in the United States, I will frequently (more often than not) call you.

(3) 常常 refers to high frequency, while 往往 to a habitual routine.

(4) 往往 is contingent upon context, a condition must be established before it can be used, e.g.,

1 小玲常常去看恐怖片。

Xiǎolíng chángcháng qù kàn kǒngbùpiàn.

Xiaoling often goes to see horror movies.

2 ＊小玲往往去看恐怖片。

＊Xiǎolíng wǎngwǎng qù kàn kǒngbùpiàn.

3 小玲不開心的時候，往往去看恐怖片。

Xiǎolíng bù kāixīn de shíhòu, wǎngwǎng qù kàn kǒngbùpiàn.

When she’s upset, more often than not, Xiaoling goes to see a horror movie.

(5) Negation can be placed either in front of or behind 常常, i.e., one can say either 不常常 (more commonly 不是常常…) or 常常不; however, 往往 cannot be negated, i.e., ＊不往往 ＊bù wǎngwǎng.

(6) Also c.f., 一向, 向來.