Reduplication of adjectives

One of the charming features of Chinese is reduplication of certain words and characters, including adjectives!

Basic patterns

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.

Adj + Adj + 的

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

• 妈妈的手 暖暖的。Mother's hands are very warm.
• 你的 脸 红红的。Your face is very red.
• 果汁 甜甜的。The fruit juice is very sweet.

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very happu
• 舒舒服服very comfortable
• 糊糊涂涂very confused

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

See also

• Simple "noun + adjective" sentences
• The "zui" superlative

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 53) →buy
• Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 32-6) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 50) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103-4) →buy