Reduplication of verbs
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Used for
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Keywords
One of the fun things about Chinese is that you can repeat certain things to express "a little bit", similar to how in some Latin languages you can add a bit to the end of a word to make it "cute".
Contents
Reduplication with VV pattern
Structure
In Chinese, verbs can be reduplicated to indicate that they happen briefly or "a little bit".
Subject + Verb + Verb
Examples
- 你 看 看 。(You) Take a little look.
- 我 试 试 。I'll give it a little try.
- 你 听 听 。(You) Listen for a bit.
- 你 说 说 你 的 想法。Talk a little bit about your opinion.
- 周末 跟 朋友 吃 吃 饭,很 好。During the weekend, eat a little bit with friends, it's awesome.
- 我 喜欢 写 写 东西。When I have nothing to do, I like to write a little bit.
- 洗 洗 你 的 臭 袜子 吧!Wash your stinky socks a bit!
- 不要 生气 了,笑 笑 !You don't need to get mad, laugh a little!
- 快点 去 问 问 厕所 在 哪 里。Hurry and go ask a while where the bathroom is.
- 我 想 出去 走 走。I want to go out and walk for a bit.
Reduplication with "一"
Structure
Another way to reduplicate verbs is to insert 一 (yī), in the following structure:
Verb + 一 + Verb
Examples
- 给 我 看 一 看 。Let me look a little.
- 你 听 一 听 。(You) Listen a bit.
- 去 试 一 试 。(You) Go and try it a bit.
- 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 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?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (p. 18) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 85) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 227-8) →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
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 121-2) →buy