偶尔 ǒu ěr
“occasionally; once in a while; sometimes”
adverb, attributiveHSK 4 · 2021 list level 5Traditional 偶爾
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
偶尔 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1541: 偶尔 ǒu’ěr — Level 4; official annotation 4 (副、形). PDF page 118
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 偶尔
偶尔 means "occasionally" or "once in a while" and describes something that happens sometimes but not often. It is an adverb placed before the verb, often after the subject, and is frequently used with 会 or 才.
例句Example sentences
- 我偶尔会去公园跑步。wǒ ǒu ěr huì qù gōng yuán pǎo bù.I occasionally go running in the park.
- 他工作很忙，偶尔才回家吃饭。tā gōng zuò hěn máng, ǒu ěr cái huí jiā chī fàn.He is very busy with work and only comes home for dinner once in a while.
- 周末我偶尔和朋友一起看电影。zhōu mò wǒ ǒu ěr hé péng you yì qǐ kàn diàn yǐng.On weekends I sometimes watch movies with friends.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗他偶尔每天喝酒。
✓他偶尔喝酒。
偶尔 is not used with 每天, which means "every day."