Reduplication of verbs

One of the fun things about Chinese is that you can repeat certain things to express "a little bit", similar to how in some Latin languages you can add a bit to the end of a word to make it "cute".

Structure

In Chinese, verbs can be reduplicated to indicate that they happen briefly or "a little bit".

Subject + Verb + Verb

Examples

• 你 看看 。(You) Take a little look.
• 我 试试 。I'll give it a little try.
• 你 听听 。(You) Listen for a bit.
• 你 说说 你的看法。Talk a little bit about your opinion.
• 周末 的 时候 跟 朋友 吃吃 饭，很 好。During the weekend, eat a little bit with friends, it's awesome.
• 没事 的 时候 我 喜欢 写写 东西。When I have nothing to do, I like to write a little bit.
• 洗洗 你 的 臭 袜子 吧！Wash your stinky socks a bit!
• 不要 生气 了，笑笑 ！You don't need to get mad, laugh a little!
• 快点 去 问问 厕所 在 哪 里。Hurry and go ask a while where the bathroom is.
• 我 想 出去 走走 。I want to go out and walk for a bit.

See also

• Verb reduplication with yi
• Softening speech with "ba"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 18) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 85) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 227-8) →buy
• Contemporary Chinese 1 (当代中文1) (pp. 125) →buy
• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 152-160) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 121-2) →buy