자주 vs 종종
Korean word comparison
Listen to 자주
Listen to 종종
| 자주 | 종종 |
|---|---|
JA-joo adverb | jongjong adverb |
| often; frequently | often; from time to time |
How they differ
종종 is close to 자주, but it can sound a little more like “now and then” or “fairly often” rather than very frequent repetition. It is also used comfortably in both spoken and written Korean.
When to use each
When to use 자주: Use 자주 when you simply mean that something happens many times or frequently.
When to use 종종: Use 종종 when you want a slightly softer sense of frequency, especially if the action happens repeatedly but not necessarily very regularly.
Side-by-side examples
- 나는 그 식당에 자주 가요.
(I go to that restaurant often.) - 나는 그 식당에 종종 가요.
(I go to that restaurant fairly often.)
Register & nuance: 종종 is neutral and natural in everyday speech and writing.