次 / 遍
cì / biàn
Measure words for verbs
How many times an action happened is counted after the verb, with its own measure word.
Verb + Number + Measure Word
How it works
做三次 (do it three times), 读两遍 (read it through twice). The count follows the verb rather than preceding it.
次 is the general count of occurrences. 遍 counts complete run-throughs, so it suits reading, watching and listening. 下 counts brief actions: 敲三下.
With an object present, the count usually goes between verb and object: 我去过三次中国.
Examples
dú liǎng biàn
读两遍。
Read it through twice.
wǒ qù guò sān cì zhōng guó
我去过三次中国。
I've been to China three times.
zhè ge diàn yǐng wǒ kàn le liǎng cì
这个电影我看了两次。
I've watched this film twice.