屡次
lǚ cì · HSK 7
repeatedly
🔁 屡 = repeatedly + 次 = times; so 屡次 = repeated occasions, again and again
屡 — 尸 corpse radical + 婁 lou (phonetic)
屡 (traditional 屢) is a semantic-phonetic compound: 尸 'body/dwelling' on top with 婁 lou below giving the sound. The original sense related to repeated layers or stacking, which extended to the modern meaning 'repeatedly, frequently, time after time.'
次 — 冫 ice + 欠 yawn/lack
Originally depicted a person (欠) sighing or hesitating, with 二 (later written 冫) marking repetition or a secondary position. The core sense developed from 'second in order' or 'next' into related meanings like 'sequence,' 'time/occurrence,' and 'inferior quality.'