Repeated actions in the past with "you"

To emphasize that an action is being repeated again and again, we can place 又 after a verb, then repeat the same verb again.

Structure

In the pattern below, 又, together with a repeating verb, indicates that the speaker did something repeatedly (not just twice) in the past. Note that the verb used here must be a single-syllable verb, usually a verb such as 看, 想, 问, 找, or 试. 了 is placed right after the first verb.

Subj. ＋ Verb + 了 + 又 + Verb， 还是 / 就是 ……

Note that "还是" or "就是" is often used to emphasize that "nothing changed" after all.

Examples

• 这 个 人 我 看 了又 看，还是 觉得 我 不 认识 他。Zhège rén wǒ kàn le yòu kàn, háishì juéde wǒ bù rènshi tā.I looked at him again and again, but I still think I don't know him.
• 我 想 了又 想，还是 觉得 不 能 这样 做 。Wǒ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng, háishì juéde bù néng zhèyàng zuò.I thought it over again and again, I think I can't do it like this.
• 他 找了又 找，还是 没 找到 他 的 钱 包。Tā zhǎo le yòu zhǎo, háishì méi zhǎodào tā de qiánbāo He searched again and again, and still couldn't find his wallet.
• 他 想了又 想，还是 不 同意。Tā xiǎng le yòu xiǎng, háishì bù tóngyì.He thought it over again and again, and he still disagrees.
• 我们 问 了 又 问，她 就是 不 说。Wǒmen wèn le yòu wèn, tā jiùshì bù shuō.We asked again and again, but she wouldn't say it.
• 他 试 了 又 试，就是 打 不 开 门。Tā shì le yòu shì, jiùshì dǎ bù kāi mén.He tried again and again, but he still couldn't open the door.
• 我 尝 了 又 尝，还是 觉得 这些 菜 坏 了。Wǒ cháng le yòu cháng, háishì juéde zhèxiē cài huài le.I tasted again and again, but I still think those food has gone bad.
• 他 闻 了 又 闻，还是 什么 都 没 闻到。Tā wén le yòu wén, háishì shénme dōu méi wéndào.He smelled again and again, but he still didn't smell anything.
• 这 个 方案 改了又 改，终于 通过 了。Zhège fāng'àn gǎi le yòu gǎi, zhōngyú tōngguò le.This plan was changed again and again, and finally it passed.
• 这 件 衣服 妈妈 洗了又 洗，终于 洗 干净 了。Zhè jiàn yīfu māma xǐ le yòu xǐ, zhōngyú xǐ gānjìng le.Mother washed this clothing again and again, and it's finally clean.

See also

• Expressing "both A and B" with "you"
• Expressing "again" in the past with "you"
• Comparing "zai" and "you"
• Emphasizing negation with "you"

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5