Difference between revisions of "Using "lai" and "qu" when "verbing around""

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This structure can be used if want to say you are "verbing without a particular goal". The same verb is repeated before the 来(lái) and 去 (qù). So for example, 走来走去 is a bit like "pacing backwards and forwards".
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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."
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==Structure==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
verb + 来 + verb + 去
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Verb + 来 + Verb + 去
 
</div>
 
</div>
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The same verb should repeat in this pattern. Single-syllable verbs are most common.
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==Examples==
  
 
In a sentence, this structure looks like this:
 
In a sentence, this structure looks like this:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 学生们 都 很 紧张,在 考场 外面 <em>走 来 走 去</em>。
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* 学生们 都 很 紧张,在 考场 外面 <em>走 来 走 去</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xuéshēng men dōu hěn jǐnzhāng, zài kǎochǎng wàimiàn <em>zǒu lái zǒu qù</em>.</span><span class="trans">The students are all nervous, they are all pacing back and forth outside of the exam room.</span>
* 他 <em>说 来 说 去</em> 还是 不 承认 自己 错 了。
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* 他 <em>说 来 说 去</em> 不 承认 自己 错 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>shuō lái shuō qù</em> hái bù chéngrèn zìjǐ cuò le.</span><span class="trans">He's been yakking a lot, but he still hasn't admitted that he's wrong.</span>
* 我 <em>想 来 想 去</em> 都 想 不 明白,他 怎么 能 那样 对 我?
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* 我 <em>想 来 想 去</em> 都 想 不 明白,他 怎么 能 那样 对 我?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiǎng lái xiǎng qù</em> dōu xiǎng bù míngbai, tā zěnme néng nàyàng duì wǒ?</span><span class="trans">I've thought and thought about it, but I can't understand, how could you treat me like that?</span>
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* 他 <em>翻 来 翻 去</em>, 终于 找到 了 那 双 破 袜子。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>fān lái fān qù</em>, zhōngyú zhǎodào le nà shuāng pò wàzi.</span><span class="trans">He searched everywhere and finally found the pair of worn-out socks.</span><span class="trans"></span>
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* 这 份 工作 不仅 是 脑力 活 , 还 需要 <em>跑 来 跑 去</em> 的 ! <span class="pinyin">Zhè fèn gōngzuò bùjǐn shì nǎolì huó, hái xūyào <em>pǎo lái pǎo qù</em> de!</span><span class="trans">This job isn't only mentally taxing; you also have to run around a lot!</span>
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* 我 跟 孩子 们 上课 的 风格 是 非常 活泼 的 , 常常 会 做 一些 手工 , 有时候 还 会 <em>跳 来 跳 去</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn háizi men shàngkè de fēnggé shì fēicháng huópo de, chángcháng huì zuò yīxiē shǒugōng, yǒushíhou hái huì <em>tiào lái tiào qù</em>.</span></span><span class="trans">My classroom style with the kids is quite active. We often do arts and crafts, and sometimes also jump all around.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 191-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|191-2}}
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|66}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
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{{Basic Grammar|来|B2|Verb + 来 + Verb + 去|他 考虑 <em>来</em> 考虑 <em>去</em> , 最后 还是 决定 回 学校 。|grammar point|ASGYJQAG}}
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{{Rel char|去}}
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{{Similar|"Verbing away" using "zhe"}}
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{{Used for|Expressing duration}}
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{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Used for|Expressing movement}}
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{{Structure|Complements}}

Revision as of 02:51, 29 December 2020

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

The same verb should repeat in this pattern. Single-syllable verbs are most common.

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Xuéshēng men dōu hěn jǐnzhāng, zài kǎochǎng wàimiàn zǒu lái zǒu qù.The students are all nervous, they are all pacing back and forth outside of the exam room.
  • 说 来 说 去 还 不 承认 自己 错 了。shuō lái shuō qù hái bù chéngrèn zìjǐ cuò le.He's been yakking a lot, but he still hasn't admitted that he's wrong.
  • 想 来 想 去 都 想 不 明白,他 怎么 能 那样 对 我?xiǎng lái xiǎng qù dōu xiǎng bù míngbai, tā zěnme néng nàyàng duì wǒ?I've thought and thought about it, but I can't understand, how could you treat me like that?
  • 翻 来 翻 去, 终于 找到 了 那 双 破 袜子。fān lái fān qù, zhōngyú zhǎodào le nà shuāng pò wàzi.He searched everywhere and finally found the pair of worn-out socks.
  • 这 份 工作 不仅 是 脑力 活 , 还 需要 跑 来 跑 去 的 ! Zhè fèn gōngzuò bùjǐn shì nǎolì huó, hái xūyào pǎo lái pǎo qù de!This job isn't only mentally taxing; you also have to run around a lot!
  • 我 跟 孩子 们 上课 的 风格 是 非常 活泼 的 , 常常 会 做 一些 手工 , 有时候 还 会 跳 来 跳 去Wǒ gēn háizi men shàngkè de fēnggé shì fēicháng huópo de, chángcháng huì zuò yīxiē shǒugōng, yǒushíhou hái huì tiào lái tiào qù.My classroom style with the kids is quite active. We often do arts and crafts, and sometimes also jump all around.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5