The present application discloses a control information sending method that includes: determining, from a preset set of patterns, a pattern as a first pattern, where the pattern comprised in the preset set of patterns is one or more patterns that are determined according to a coverage enhancement degree. The pattern determines an aggregation level that is used for transmitting control information, and determines the number of the multiple subframes, and also determines a resource indicator for a resource that is used for transmitting the control information. The pattern further determines a control information format that is used for transmitting, in each subframe of the multiple subframes, the control information. The method further includes: acquiring, according to the first pattern, the control information on a resource, to which the control information is mapped, in each subframe of the multiple subframes.