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。
• 你的 脸 红红的。
• 果汁 甜甜的。

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.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• 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