The word for "usually" in Mandarin

Question

In Mandarin, there are many words to express the meaning "usually" - 通常，平常，平日，素，率，素来，往往，常，etc... (actually there are way more, but I don't list all of them here).

There are too many to choose the correct word. How are all of them different and more importantly, how can I know which word fits the best for my specific purpose?

^{At least for me it feels that 通常 and 平常 are used more often, but I'm not sure.}

For example, in these contexts:

Do you usually go to the cafe?

What do you usually do after work?

Do you usually come to Shanghai on your holiday?

In these cases, how can I know which one to use? Or are these more or less the same and which to choose does not affect that much?

Answer 1

Just like "usually, typically, normally and often" in English, "通常, 平日, 素来, 往往 and 常常" In Chinese have overlapping meanings but they all have subtle differences with each others.

"通常" = usually /typically (emphasizes on normalcy)

Example : "他通常不做好事" (usually, he doesn't do good things - not doing good things to him is normal)

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"平日"= "in normal days/ normally" (emphasizes on regularity)

Example : "他平日不做好事" (normally, he doesn't do good things - it is a regular routine for him to not do the good things)

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"素/ 素来" = "always" (emphasizes on constancy)

Example : "他素来不做好事" (always, he doesn't do good things- he has always been like that )

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"往往" = "often" (implies 'ironically')

Example : "他往往不做好事" (often, he doesn't do good things- despite other's expectation )

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"常/ 常常 " = often (implies more often than not)

Example : "他常常不做好事" (often, he doesn't do good things- he is like that more often than not)