Difference between revisions of "Reduplication of adjectives"
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− | {{Grammar Box}} | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
− | One of the charming features of Chinese is reduplication of certain words and characters, including | + | One of the charming features of Chinese is reduplication (repeating, or doubling up) of certain words and characters, including [[adjective]]s. Reduplication can enhance the descriptive feeling of an adjective. |
− | == | + | == One-Syllable Adjectives (AA) == |
− | + | If an adjective is only one syllable (one character), then reduplicating it is a no-brainer. The only tricky part about this pattern is that not all adjectives can be reduplicated in natural speech. It's mostly for adjectives that describe the physical world: colors, sizes, shapes, and other physical descriptors. | |
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | Adj. + Adj. + 的 (+ Noun) | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | In most Chinese textbooks and grammar books, this is known as the "AA" pattern. We'll be using this form more extensively below: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | A A + 的 (+ Noun) | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note that this pattern is also identical to [[reduplication of verbs|single-syllable reduplication of verbs]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Examples === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | *你 的 脸 <em>红 红 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de liǎn <em>hóng hóng de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your face is red.</span> | ||
+ | *宝宝 的 眼睛 <em>大 大 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao de yǎnjīng <em>dà dà de</em>.</span><span class="trans">The baby's eyes are big.</span> | ||
+ | *今晚 的 月亮 <em>圆 圆 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnwǎn de yuèliàng <em>yuán yuán de</em>.</span><span class="trans">The moon is round tonight.</span> | ||
+ | *她 爸爸 <em>高 高 胖 胖 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bàba <em>gāo gāo pàng pàng de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Her father is tall and fat.</span> | ||
+ | *我 妹妹 <em>瘦 瘦 小 小 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei <em>shòu shòu xiǎo xiǎo de</em>.</span><span class="trans">My little sister is thin and small.</span> | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB) == | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the adjective has more than one character, then you should repeat each character individually (rather than the whole word). This is known as the "AABB" pattern. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
− | + | In the structure below, the original two-character adjective (such as 高兴, 漂亮) is "AB," where the first character of the adjective is represented by "A," and the second by "B." | |
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | A A B B + 的 (+ Noun) | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | === Examples === | |
+ | |||
+ | Not all two-syllable adjectives are used in AABB form, but here are some common examples of AB adjectives represented in AABB form. | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | *高兴 → 高高兴兴 <span class="pinyin">gāoxìng → gāogāo-xìngxìng</span><span class="trans">happy</span> |
− | * | + | *热闹 → 热热闹闹 <span class="pinyin">rènao → rèrè-nāonāo</span><span class="trans">noisy, boisterous</span> |
− | * | + | *漂亮 → 漂漂亮亮 <span class="pinyin">piàoliang → piàopiào-liāngliāng</span><span class="trans">pretty</span> |
+ | *舒服 → 舒舒服服 <span class="pinyin">shūfu → shūshū-fūfū</span><span class="trans">comfortable</span> | ||
+ | *安静 → 安安静静 <span class="pinyin">ānjìng → ānān-jìngjìng</span><span class="trans">quiet and still</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | Not all adjectives can take AABB form. Here are some examples of common adjectives that don't work in AABB form. | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | + | <ul> | |
− | + | <li class="x">好吃 → <strong>好好吃吃</strong> <span class="pinyin">hǎochī → <strong>hǎohǎo-chīchī </strong></span><span class="trans">tasty</span></li> | |
− | + | <li class="x">便宜 → <strong>便便宜宜</strong> <span class="pinyin">piányi → <strong>piánpián-yíyí</strong></span><span class="trans">cheap</span></li> | |
+ | <li class="x">麻烦 → <strong>麻麻烦烦</strong> <span class="pinyin">máfan → <strong>mámá-fánfán </strong></span><span class="trans">bothersome</span></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | == Used as Adverbs (AABB) == | |
− | == | + | When adjectives are used as [[adverb]]s to modify verbs, you can reduplicate the adjective using the AABB pattern. |
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | AABB + 地 + Verb | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Note:''' The "AABB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable adjectives contrasts with the [[reduplication of verbs|"ABAB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable verbs]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Examples === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | *我们 <em>清清楚楚</em> <strong>地</strong> 看到 他 跟 一 个 胖 胖 的 男人 上 车 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>qīngqīng-chǔchǔ</em> <strong>de</strong> kàndào tā gēn yī gè pàng pàng de nánrén shàngchē le.</span><span class="trans">We clearly saw him get in the car with a fat man.</span> | ||
+ | *我 真 想 <em>舒舒服服</em> <strong>地</strong> 躺 在 沙发 上 看 电视 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhēn xiǎng <em>shūshū-fūfū</em> <strong>de</strong> tǎng zài shāfā shàng kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">I'd really like to comfortably lie on the couch and watch TV.</span> | ||
+ | *你 妈妈 <em>辛辛苦苦</em> <strong>地</strong> 做 了 两 个 小时 的 饭,你 怎么 不 吃 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ māma <em>xīnxīn-kǔkǔ</em> <strong>de</strong> zuò le liǎng gè xiǎoshí de fàn, nǐ zěnme bù chī?</span><span class="trans">Your mother labored over this meal for two hours, and you aren't going to eat it?</span> | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Used as Predicates (ABAB) == | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you use an [[adjective]] as a [[predicate]], then you're basically using the adjective like a verb, and you reduplicate it [[reduplication of verbs|as you would a verb]], which means ABAB form. Using an adjective in this way is roughly equivalent to using 一下 after the (non-reduplicated) adjective. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
+ | |||
+ | To use a reduplicated adjective as a predicate, follow this structure: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | Subj. + ABAB | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | or | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | Subj. + AB + 一下 | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the pattern above there's no verb because when an adjective serves as the predicate, it does the job of a verb. Notice also that there's no 的 after the ABAB, because 的 is used when modifying nouns. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Examples === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | *妹妹 快 过 生日 了 ,我 打算 给 她 办 一 个 生日 派对 ,<em>热闹 热闹</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Mèimei kuài guò shēngrì le, wǒ dǎsuàn gěi tā bàn yī gè shēngrì pàiduì, <em>rènao rènao</em>.</span><span class="trans">My little sister's birthday is coming and I plan to throw her a birthday party and have a blast.</span> | ||
+ | *来 ,喝 点 酒 ,<em>高兴 高兴</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Lái, hē diǎn jiǔ, <em>gāoxìng gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">Come on, have a little wine and enjoy yourself.</span> | ||
+ | *到 这里 来 <em>凉快 凉快</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dào zhèlǐ lái <em>liángkuai liángkuai</em>.</span><span class="trans">Come over here and cool off.</span> | ||
+ | *我 想 去 外面 走走 ,安静 <em> 一下</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qù wàimiàn zǒuzou, ānjìng <em>yīxià</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to take a walk outside, get some quiet time.</span> | ||
+ | *想 不 想 去 做 个 按摩 ,<em>放松 一下</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎng bu xiǎng qù zuò gè ànmó, <em>fàngsōng yīxià</em>.</span><span class="trans">Would you like to go get a massage and unwind?</span> | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
Line 41: | Line 129: | ||
=== Books === | === Books === | ||
− | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|139}} | |
− | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|53}} | |
− | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|189-90}} | |
+ | {{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|32-6}} | ||
+ | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|50}} | ||
+ | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|103-4}} | ||
+ | {{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|271-2}} | ||
[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
+ | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
[[Category:Adjectives]] | [[Category:Adjectives]] | ||
− | {{Basic Grammar|的|B1|Adj + Adj|你 应该 <em>慢慢</em> 地 走。|grammar point|ASGDHE8S}} | + | {{Basic Grammar|的|B1|Adj. + Adj.|你 应该 <em>慢慢</em> 地 走。|grammar point|ASGDHE8S}} |
+ | {{Similar|Simple "noun + adjective" sentences}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Reduplication of verbs}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Reduplication of measure words}} | ||
+ | {{Used for|Expressing quality}} | ||
{{POS|Adjectives}} | {{POS|Adjectives}} | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− |
Latest revision as of 07:40, 13 November 2020
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Keywords
One of the charming features of Chinese is reduplication (repeating, or doubling up) of certain words and characters, including adjectives. Reduplication can enhance the descriptive feeling of an adjective.
Contents
One-Syllable Adjectives (AA)
If an adjective is only one syllable (one character), then reduplicating it is a no-brainer. The only tricky part about this pattern is that not all adjectives can be reduplicated in natural speech. It's mostly for adjectives that describe the physical world: colors, sizes, shapes, and other physical descriptors.
Structure
Adj. + Adj. + 的 (+ Noun)
In most Chinese textbooks and grammar books, this is known as the "AA" pattern. We'll be using this form more extensively below:
A A + 的 (+ Noun)
Note that this pattern is also identical to single-syllable reduplication of verbs.
Examples
- 你 的 脸 红 红 的 。Your face is red.
- 宝宝 的 眼睛 大 大 的 。The baby's eyes are big.
- 今晚 的 月亮 圆 圆 的 。The moon is round tonight.
- 她 爸爸 高 高 胖 胖 的 。Her father is tall and fat.
- 我 妹妹 瘦 瘦 小 小 的 。My little sister is thin and small.
Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB)
If the adjective has more than one character, then you should repeat each character individually (rather than the whole word). This is known as the "AABB" pattern.
Structure
In the structure below, the original two-character adjective (such as 高兴, 漂亮) is "AB," where the first character of the adjective is represented by "A," and the second by "B."
A A B B + 的 (+ Noun)
Examples
Not all two-syllable adjectives are used in AABB form, but here are some common examples of AB adjectives represented in AABB form.
- 高兴 → 高高兴兴 happy
- 热闹 → 热热闹闹 noisy, boisterous
- 漂亮 → 漂漂亮亮 pretty
- 舒服 → 舒舒服服 comfortable
- 安静 → 安安静静 quiet and still
Not all adjectives can take AABB form. Here are some examples of common adjectives that don't work in AABB form.
- 好吃 → 好好吃吃 tasty
- 便宜 → 便便宜宜 cheap
- 麻烦 → 麻麻烦烦 bothersome
Used as Adverbs (AABB)
When adjectives are used as adverbs to modify verbs, you can reduplicate the adjective using the AABB pattern.
Structure
AABB + 地 + Verb
Note: The "AABB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable adjectives contrasts with the "ABAB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable verbs.
Examples
- 我们 清清楚楚 地 看到 他 跟 一 个 胖 胖 的 男人 上 车 了 。We clearly saw him get in the car with a fat man.
- 我 真 想 舒舒服服 地 躺 在 沙发 上 看 电视 。I'd really like to comfortably lie on the couch and watch TV.
- 你 妈妈 辛辛苦苦 地 做 了 两 个 小时 的 饭,你 怎么 不 吃 ?Your mother labored over this meal for two hours, and you aren't going to eat it?
Used as Predicates (ABAB)
If you use an adjective as a predicate, then you're basically using the adjective like a verb, and you reduplicate it as you would a verb, which means ABAB form. Using an adjective in this way is roughly equivalent to using 一下 after the (non-reduplicated) adjective.
Structure
To use a reduplicated adjective as a predicate, follow this structure:
Subj. + ABAB
or
Subj. + AB + 一下
In the pattern above there's no verb because when an adjective serves as the predicate, it does the job of a verb. Notice also that there's no 的 after the ABAB, because 的 is used when modifying nouns.
Examples
- 妹妹 快 过 生日 了 ,我 打算 给 她 办 一 个 生日 派对 ,热闹 热闹 。My little sister's birthday is coming and I plan to throw her a birthday party and have a blast.
- 来 ,喝 点 酒 ,高兴 高兴 。Come on, have a little wine and enjoy yourself.
- 到 这里 来 凉快 凉快 。Come over here and cool off.
- 我 想 去 外面 走走 ,安静 一下 。I'd like to take a walk outside, get some quiet time.
- 想 不 想 去 做 个 按摩 ,放松 一下 。Would you like to go get a massage and unwind?
Sources and further reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 139) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 53) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 189-90) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 32-6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 50) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册) (pp. 271-2) [ →buy]