Repeated actions in the past with "you"

Structure

Similarly, we can express extra repetition in the past with another structure with 又. Here we repeat the verb used and place 又 in the middle. The repetition of the verb emphasizes how the action is being repeated again and again. Note that 了 must be placed before the first 又.

Subj. + Verb + 了 + 又 + Verb

Examples

• 宝宝 出生 了 ， 妈妈 看 了 又 看 ， 高兴 得 不得了 。Bǎobao chūshēng le, māma kàn le yòu kàn, gāoxìng dé bùdéliǎo.The baby was born, and the mother just kept looking and looking at it. She was very happy.
• 这 个 词 我 记 了 又 记，还是 记 不住 。Zhè ge cí wǒ jì le yòu jì, háishì jì bu zhù.I've tried to memorize this word over and over, but I still can't remember it.
• 这 个 方案 改 了 又 改 ， 终于 通过 了 。Zhè ge fāng'àn gǎi le yòu gǎi, zhōngyú tōngguò le.This plan was changed again and again, and finally it passed.
• 我 想 了 又 想 ， 还是 不 能 这样 做 。Wǒ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng, háishì bùnéng zhèyàng zuò.I thought it over again and again, and I still can't do this.
• 他 找 了 又 找，还 是 没 找 到 他 的 钱 包。Tā zhǎo le yòu zhǎo, háishì méi zhǎo dào tā de qiánbāo He searched again and again, and still couldn't find his wallet.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5