Chinese grammar · Elementary (A2)
Doubling words: 看看, 试试, 高高兴兴
How doubling a verb (看看, 试试, 休息休息) makes it softer and shorter, and how doubled adjectives (高高兴兴) make descriptions livelier.
Doubling verbs: “a little”, “have a try”
Say a verb twice and it means doing something briefly, casually or to try it out: (kànkan), have a look; (shìshi), give it a try. It makes requests and suggestions softer and friendlier: (Wǒ néng shìshi ma?), can I try it on? The second syllable is said in the neutral tone.
One-syllable verbs can also take in the middle: (kàn yi kàn). (yíxià) after the verb has the same softening effect: (kàn yíxià).
| Verb | Doubled | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (kàn) | (kànkan), (kàn yi kàn) | have a look |
| (shì) | (shìshi), (shì yi shì) | have a try |
| (cháng) | (chángchang) | have a taste |
| (xiǎng) | (xiǎngxiang) | think it over |
| (liáo) | (liáoliao) | have a chat |
| (xiūxi) | (xiūxi xiūxi) | have a rest |
| (jièshào) | (jièshào jièshào) | say a bit about |
Two-syllable verbs, verb + object, and the past
Two-syllable verbs double as a whole: (xiūxi xiūxi), (shāngliang shāngliang), talk it over. Verb + object words double only the verb: (sànsan bù), go for a little walk; (liáoliao tiān), have a chat.
For something already done, 了 goes in the middle: (kànle kàn), took a look.
- 这件衣服我可以试试吗？Zhè jiàn yīfu wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?Can I try this on?
- 你尝尝，这个菜很好吃。Nǐ chángchang, zhège cài hěn hǎochī.Have a taste, this dish is delicious.
- 我们周末去公园散散步吧。Wǒmen zhōumò qù gōngyuán sànsan bù ba.Let's go for a little walk in the park at the weekend.
- 他看了看手表，说：“我得走了。”Tā kànle kàn shǒubiǎo, shuō: “Wǒ děi zǒu le.”He glanced at his watch and said, “I have to go.”
- 这件事你们再好好商量商量。Zhè jiàn shì nǐmen zài hǎohāo shāngliang shāngliang.You should talk this over properly again.
Doubling adjectives
Doubled adjectives make a description more vivid, often warm or affectionate. They don't take (hěn), and they usually need before a noun or at the end: (chángcháng de tóufa), lovely long hair; (tā de yǎnjing dàdà de), she has big eyes. Before a verb they describe how something is done: (hǎohāo xiūxi), have a good rest; (mànmàn shuō), say it slowly.
Two-syllable adjectives double each syllable: (gāoxìng) becomes (gāogāoxìngxìng), (qīngchu) becomes (qīngqīngchǔchǔ), (shūfu) becomes (shūshūfúfú).
- 她有一头长长的头发。Tā yǒu yì tóu chángcháng de tóufa.She has lovely long hair.
- 大家高高兴兴地回家了。Dàjiā gāogāoxìngxìng de huí jiā le.Everyone went home happy.
- 你慢慢说，别着急。Nǐ mànmàn shuō, bié zháojí.Take your time, don't worry.
- 你好好休息吧。Nǐ hǎohāo xiūxi ba.Get some good rest.
When not to double
Verbs for states and feelings, such as (shì), (yǒu), (xǐhuan) and (zhīdào), don't double. Don't double a verb that describes something in progress (他在看看书 is wrong), or one that has a result after it: say (wǒ kànwán le), never 我看看完了.