The Frequency Adverb “偶尔”

In Chinese, “偶尔” (ǒu’ěr) says that an action or state happens only rarely, from time to time.

How it is translated

sometimes from time to time only rarely

偶尔 + verb do something only occasionally

她告诉医生，自己平时身体不错，偶尔才会生一次病

偶尔 + 才会 + 生一次病 occasionally + only then + fall ill once

平时 — usually 身体不错 — health is pretty good 偶尔 — occasionally 才会 — only then 生一次病 — fall ill once

Here “偶尔” says that falling ill happens very seldom.

他经常在家看电影，偶尔才去电影院看

经常 + 在家看电影 often + watch films at home

偶尔 + 才去电影院看 occasionally + go to the cinema

经常 — often 在家 — at home 看电影 — watch a film 偶尔 — occasionally 电影院 — cinema

Here “经常” and “偶尔” are set against each other by frequency.

我一般都在学校食堂吃饭，偶尔会跟朋友一起出去吃

一般 + 都在学校食堂吃饭 usually + eat in the school canteen

偶尔 + 会跟朋友一起出去吃 occasionally + go out to eat with friends

一般 — usually 学校食堂 — the school canteen 吃饭 — have a meal 偶尔 — occasionally 跟朋友一起 — together with friends 出去吃 — go out to eat

偶尔 + verb

The action does not happen often — only now and then.

偶尔生病

偶尔去电影院

偶尔跟朋友出去吃