Difference between revisions of "Reduplication of adjectives"

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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 32 - 36) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]  
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* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 32-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]  
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 50) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]  
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 50) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]  
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 103 - 104) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 103-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:Adjectives]]
 
[[Category:Adjectives]]

Revision as of 06:28, 30 January 2012

One way to intensify adjectives is to reduplicate them. This creates a sense of "really" or "very", and makes the descriptive power of the adjective stronger.

The structure is:

Adj + Adj + 的

In most Chinese textbooks and grammar books, this is known as the "AA" pattern. Some examples:

  • 外面 冷冷的
  • 你的 脸 红红的
  • 天气 热热的

If the adjective has more than one character, then you should repeat each character individually. This is known as the "AABB" pattern. Examples:

  • 高高兴兴
  • 舒舒服服
  • 糊糊涂涂

Note: The "AABB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable adjectives contrasts with the "ABAB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable verbs.

Sources and further reading

Books