Difference between revisions of "Verb reduplication with "yi""

Revision as of 08:09, 14 July 2015

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Reduplication of certain verbs and adding an 一 (yī) can change the degree of something to "a little bit".

One way to reduplicate verbs is to insert 一 (yī), in the following structure:

Verb + 一 + Verb

As with simple verb reduplication, this creates a sense that the verb is done briefly or "a little bit".

给我 看一看Literally "Give me look a look." 。Let me have a look.
你 听一听 。Literally "You listen a listen."(You) take a listen.
去 试一试 。Literally "Go try a try."(You) give it a try.
请老师给我们 说一说。Teacher, please explain it to us a little.
我跟你 练一练 中文吧。Practice Chinese a little bit with me.
我们出去走一走 吧。Let's go out side to walk for a bit.
别生气了，笑一笑 嘛！Don't get mad, laugh a little bit!
周末的时候我们想去杭州 玩一玩 。When it's the weekend, we should think about going to Hangzhou for some fun.
你 问一问 他们厕所在哪里。(You), ask them a bit where the bathroom is.
我可以 用一用 你的电脑吗？Can I use your computer for a little bit?

Note: The structure in the above sentences can also omit the "一" and maintain their meaning, for example, 看看, 听听, 试试, 说说, 练练, 走走, 笑笑, 玩玩, 问问, and 用用.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 <div class="liju">
-* 给 我 <em>看 一 看</em> 。<span class="trans">Let me look a little.</span>
+* 给 我 <em>看 一 看</em><span class="expl">Literally "Give me look a look."</span> 。<span class="trans">Let me have a look.</span>
-* 你 <em>听 一 听</em> 。<span class="trans">(You) Listen a bit.</span>
+* 你 <em>听 一 听</em> 。<span class="expl">Literally "You listen a listen."</span><span class="trans">(You) take a listen.</span>
-* 去 <em>试 一 试</em> 。<span class="trans">(You) Go and try it a bit.</span>
+* 去 <em>试 一 试</em> 。<span class="expl">Literally "Go try a try."</span><span class="trans">(You) give it a try.</span>
 * 请 老师 给 我们 <em>说 一 说</em>。<span class="trans">Teacher, please explain it to us a little.</span>
 * 我 跟 你 <em>练 一 练</em> 中文 吧。<span class="trans">Practice Chinese a little bit with me.</span>