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しばしば (shibashiba) Japanese meaning: often | Kotomora

しばしば

し

ば

し

ば

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

often; frequently; repeatedly

usually written using kana aloneonomatopoeic or mimetic word›

Describes an action or state that occurs many times. Slightly more formal or written than たびたび, but common in everyday speech as well.

See also: たびたび

彼かれはしばしば遅ち刻こくする。

He is often late.

この問もん題だいはしばしば議ぎ論ろんされる。

This issue is frequently discussed.

Usage patterns

しばしば〈動どう詞し〉often (does/happens)
この地ち域いきでは地じ震しんがしばしば起おこる。
Earthquakes often occur in this region.
しばしば〈事こと〉が見みられるsuch things are often observed
この時じ代だいの文ぶん学がくにはしばしば戦せん争そうのテーマが見みられる。
War is a theme that often appears in the literature of this era.

Kanji

屡often, frequently
数number, strength, fate

Related words

たびたびN3
しばしば and たびたび both mean 'often', but たびたび feels slightly more casual and often suggests repeated occurrences in a shorter span of time.
よくN5
よく is the everyday, casual word for 'often', while しばしば sounds more formal or literary and emphasizes repetition.
頻ひん繁ぱんN2
頻繁 is a na-adjective/noun meaning 'frequent' and is used with に as an adverb, while しばしば is itself an adverb meaning 'often'.

Don't confuse with

しばしばN3
This しばしば (blink repeatedly) is a mimetic word for eye movement, while the identically written and pronounced しばしば meaning 'often/frequently' is a completely different adverb.
縷る々る
屡々 looks similar to 縷々 due to its repeated-kanji pattern but means 'often, frequently', not 'in detail' or 'unceasing'.

Written forms

しばしばUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 屡々, 屡 etc. are rare and literary.
屡しば々しばUsage<1%
Rare kanji form; mainly encountered in older or formal writing.
屡しばしば
Single-character variant; very rare.
数しば々しば
Ateji-like spelling; not standard for this reading. Included for search coverage.
屡しば屡しば
数しばしば

Etymology

An old native adverb formed by reduplication of しば, an element expressing repetition or frequency. The deeper origin of しば is uncertain.

数しば数しば