Chinese word

三番五次

Pronunciation

Pinyinsān fān wǔ cì

Meaning

  • idiomrepeatedly

Example

我三番五次请求他帮忙，他都不来。wǒ sān fān wǔ cì qǐng qiú tā bāng máng tā dōu bù lái

I repeatedly asked him to help, but he never came.

Illustration for 三番五次 (repeatedly)

More examples

她的申请被三番五次驳回，最后换了其他方案。tā de shēn qǐng bèi sān fān wǔ cì bó huí zuì hòu huàn le qí tā fāng àn

Her application was rejected again and again, and she finally switched to another plan.

Core concept

Several passes over one matter, with the repeated rounds making its recurrence stand out.

Common phrases

  • 三番五次提出申请sān fān wǔ cì tí chū shēn qǐng

    repeatedly file an application

  • 三番五次请求帮忙sān fān wǔ cì qǐng qiú bāng máng

    repeatedly request help

  • 被三番五次拒绝bèi sān fān wǔ cì jù jué

    be rejected again and again

Similar words

三令五申sān lìng wǔ shēn: Issuing the same orders or warnings again and again to stress that they must be followed.
再三再四zài sān zài sì: Doing or asking something over and over, with emphasis on the many times it happens.
反反复复fán fǎn fù fù: Happening or being done again and again, with the repetition itself strongly noticeable.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示某事或某种行为反复出现、次数多且重复，常见于口语表达。yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu shì huò móu zhǒng xíng wéi fǎn fù chū xiàn cì shù duō qiě chóng fù cháng jiàn yú kóu yǔ biǎo dá

Word origin

三番五次 (sānfānwǔcì, "three rounds and five times") puts different counts side by side, using repeated counting to express many returns of one event.

Usage tips

  • The expression focuses on recurrence, not a regular schedule, so it suits repeated attempts or reminders better than a fixed timetable.

Other meanings

  • oftenidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word