Difference between revisions of "Reduplication of verbs"

Line 26: Line 26:
 
* 我 喜欢 <em>写 写</em> 东西。<span class="trans">When I have nothing to do, I like to write a little bit.</span>
 
* 我 喜欢 <em>写 写</em> 东西。<span class="trans">When I have nothing to do, I like to write a little bit.</span>
 
* <em>洗 洗</em> 你 的 臭 袜子 吧!<span class="trans">Wash your stinky socks a bit!</span>
 
* <em>洗 洗</em> 你 的 臭 袜子 吧!<span class="trans">Wash your stinky socks a bit!</span>
* 不要 生气 了,<em>笑 笑</em> !<span class="trans">You don't need to get mad, laugh a little!</span>
+
* 不要 生气 了,<em>笑 笑</em> !<span class="trans">Don't get mad, laugh a little!</span>
* 快点 去 <em>问 问</em> 厕所 在 哪 里。<span class="trans">Hurry and go ask a while where the bathroom is.</span>
+
* 快点 去 <em>问 问</em> 厕所 在 哪 里。<span class="trans">Hurry and go ask where the bathroom is.</span>
 
* 我 想 出去 <em>走 走</em>。<span class="trans">I want to go out and walk for a bit.</span>
 
* 我 想 出去 <em>走 走</em>。<span class="trans">I want to go out and walk for a bit.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
  
 
== Reduplication with "一" ==
 
== Reduplication with "一" ==

Revision as of 08:43, 24 September 2014

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".

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

  • 看 看(You) Take a little look.
  • 试 试I'll give it a little try.
  • 听 听(You) Listen for a bit.
  • 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Don't get mad, laugh a little!
  • 快点 去 问 问 厕所 在 哪 里。Hurry and go ask 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.
  • 听 一 听(You) Listen a bit.
  • 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.
  • 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