经常 (jīng cháng) is an adverb meaning 'often' or 'frequently'. Though the characters 经 (jīng) and 常 (cháng) each carry meanings related to 'enduring' and 'constant' respectively, together they form a fixed compound that emphasizes regular recurrence—not just occasional repetition, but habitual, predictable frequency. It typically modifies verbs and appears before them in sentence structure (e.g., 我经常吃早餐). Unlike time nouns like 有时候 or 每天, 经常 implies subjective perception of frequency rather than strict quantification.

This word is common in everyday spoken and written Chinese, especially when describing routines, habits, or recurring behaviors—such as studying, exercising, or communicating with others. It often co-occurs with time frames like 下午 (afternoon), 周末 (weekends), or during certain seasons. While it can appear in formal contexts, it remains neutral in register and avoids colloquial or slang connotations. Learners should note it is never used as a noun or verb; its grammatical role is strictly adverbial.