Using "lai" and "qu" when "verbing around"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
This structure can be used if want to say you are "verbing without a clear direction". It's sort of like "verbing this way and that." The same verb is repeated before the 来(lái) and 去 (qù). So for example, 走来走去 is a bit like "walking here and there" or "walking this way and that."
Structure
Verb + 来 + Verb + 去
Examples
In a sentence, this structure looks like this:
- 学生们 都 很 紧张，在 考场 外面 走 来 走 去。
- 他 说 来 说 去 还是 不 承认 自己 错 了。
- 我 想 来 想 去 都 想 不 明白，他 怎么 能 那样 对 我？
- 他 翻 来 翻 去， 终于 找 到 了 那 双 破 袜子。
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 191-2) →buy
