Verb reduplication with "yi"

Reduplication of certain verbs and adding an 一 (yī) can change the degree of something to "a little bit", with an effect similar to placing "一下" (yīxià) after a verb.

Structure

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".

Examples

• 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 really quick 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.

See also

Verbing briefly with "yixia"

Sources and Further Reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (p. 18) →buy
• Contemporary Chinese 1 (当代中文1) (p. 125) →buy
• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 152-160) →buy

HSK3