いつも・よく・時々・たまに
always, often, sometimes, once in a while
Frequency adverb + verb
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Four adverbs say how often, from most to least:
- いつも: always
- よく: often
- 時々 (ときどき): sometimes
- たまに: once in a while
Below those come あまり〜ない (not often) and 全然〜ない (never), which need a negative verb.
They usually sit early in the sentence, before the object: いつも朝ご飯を食べます, "I always eat breakfast".
よく also means "well" (よく寝ました, "I slept well"), since it comes from いい; context sorts it out. 々 in 時々 is the repeat mark: the same kanji twice.
Examples
父はいつも七時に起きます。
My father always gets up at seven.
週末はよく映画を見ます。
I often watch films at weekends.
時々友達と料理を作ります。
Sometimes I cook with friends.
たまにお酒を飲みます。
I have a drink once in a while.
雨の日はいつもバスで行きます。
On rainy days I always go by bus.