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= Reduplication of adjectives =


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One of the charming features of Chinese is reduplication (repeating, or doubling up) of certain words and characters, including adjectives! Reduplication makes the descriptive feeling of the adjective stronger.

<div id="toc" class="toc">

<div id="toctitle">

== Contents ==

<span class="toctoggle"> [[[#|hide]]] </span>

</div>
* [[#One-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AA.29|<span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">One-Syllable Adjectives (AA)</span>]]
** [[#Structure|<span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples|<span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#Two-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AABB.29|<span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB)</span>]]
** [[#Structure_2|<span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples_2|<span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#Used_as_Adverbs_.28AABB.29|<span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Used as Adverbs (AABB)</span>]]
** [[#Structure_3|<span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples_3|<span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#Used_as_Predicates_.28ABAB.29|<span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Used as Predicates (ABAB)</span>]]
** [[#Structure_4|<span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples_4|<span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#Sources_and_further_reading|<span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Sources and further reading</span>]]
** [[#Books|<span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Books</span>]]


</div>
== <span id="One-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AA.29" class="mw-headline">One-Syllable Adjectives (AA)</span> ==

If an adjective is only one syllable (one character), then reduplicating it is a no-brainer. In most Chinese textbooks and grammar books, this is known as the &quot;AA&quot; pattern.

=== <span id="Structure" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

<div class="jiegou">

Adj. + Adj. + 的 (+ Noun)


</div>
Another way of putting that (and we'll be using this form more extensively below) is:

<div class="jiegou">

A A + 的 (+ Noun)


</div>
Note that this pattern is also identical to [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs single-syllable reduplication of verbs].

=== <span id="Examples" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

<div class="liju">

* 你 的 脸 ''红 红 的'' 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de liǎn ''hóng hóng de''.</span><span class="trans">Your face is red.</span>
* 宝宝 的 眼睛 ''大 大 的'' 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao de yǎnjīng ''dà dà de''.</span><span class="trans">The baby's eyes are big.</span>
* 今晚 的 月亮 ''圆 圆 的'' 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnwǎn de yuèliàng ''yuán yuán de''.</span><span class="trans">The moon is round tonight.</span>
* 她 爸爸 ''高 高 胖 胖 的'' 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bàba ''gāo gāo pàng pàng de''.</span><span class="trans">Her father is tall and fat.</span>
* 我 妹妹 ''瘦 瘦 小 小 的'' 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei ''shòu shòu xiǎo xiǎo de''.</span><span class="trans">My little sister is thin and small.</span>


</div>
== <span id="Two-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AABB.29" class="mw-headline">Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB)</span> ==

If the adjective has more than one character, then you should repeat each character individually (rather than the whole word). This is known as the &quot;AABB&quot; pattern.

=== <span id="Structure_2" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

In the structure below, the original two-character adjective (such as 高兴, 漂亮) is &quot;AB,&quot; where the first character of the adjective is represented by &quot;A,&quot; and the second by &quot;B.&quot;

<div class="jiegou">

A A B B + 的 (+ Noun)


</div>
=== <span id="Examples_2" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

Not all two-syllable adjectives are used in AABB form, but here are some common examples of AB adjectives represented in AABB form.

<div class="liju">

* 高兴 → 高高兴兴 <span class="pinyin">gāoxìng → gāo gāo xìng xìng</span><span class="trans">happy</span>
* 热闹 → 热热闹闹 <span class="pinyin">rènao → rè rè nāo nāo</span><span class="trans">exciting</span>
* 漂亮 → 漂漂亮亮 <span class="pinyin">piàoliang → piào piào liāng liāng</span><span class="trans">pretty</span>
* 舒服 → 舒舒服服 <span class="pinyin">shūfu → shū shū fū fū</span><span class="trans">comfortable</span>
* 安静 → 安安静静 <span class="pinyin">ānjìng → ān ān jìng jìng</span><span class="trans">peaceful</span>


</div>
Not all adjectives can take AABB form. Here are some examples of common adjectives that don't work in AABB form.

<div class="liju">

* 好吃 → '''好好吃吃''' <span class="pinyin">hǎochī → '''hǎo hǎo chī chī''' </span><span class="trans">tasty</span>
* 便宜 → '''便便宜宜''' <span class="pinyin">piányi → '''piánpiányīyī'''</span><span class="trans">cheap</span>
* 麻烦 → '''麻麻烦烦''' <span class="pinyin">máfan → '''má má fán fán''' </span><span class="trans">bothersome</span>


</div>
== <span id="Used_as_Adverbs_.28AABB.29" class="mw-headline">Used as Adverbs (AABB)</span> ==

When adjectives are used as [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb adverbs] to modify verbs, you can reduplicate the adjective using the AABB pattern.

=== <span id="Structure_3" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

<div class="jiegou">

AABB + 地 + Verb


</div>
=== <span id="Examples_3" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

<div class="liju">

* 我们 ''清清楚楚'' '''地''' 看到 他 跟 一 个 胖 胖 的 男人 上 车 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen ''qīng qīng chǔ chǔ'' '''de''' kàndào tā gēn yīgè pàng pàng de nánrén shàngchē le.</span><span class="trans">We clearly saw him get in the car with a fat man.</span>
* 我 真 想 ''舒舒服服'' '''地''' 躺 在 沙发 上 看 电视 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhēn xiǎng ''shū shū fū fū'' '''de''' tǎng zài shāfā shàng kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">I'd really like to comfortably lie on the couch and watch TV.</span>
* 你 妈妈 ''辛辛苦苦'' '''地''' 做 了 两 个 小时 的 饭,你 怎么 不 吃 ?<span class="expl">辛辛苦苦 is difficult to translate into English directly!</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ māma ''xīn xīn kǔ kǔ'' '''de''' zuò le liǎng gè xiǎoshí de fàn, nǐ zěnme bù chī?</span><span class="trans">Your mother labored over this meal for two hours, and you aren't going to eat it?</span>


</div>
== <span id="Used_as_Predicates_.28ABAB.29" class="mw-headline">Used as Predicates (ABAB)</span> ==

If you use an [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adjective adjective] as a [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Predicate predicate], then you're basically using the adjective like a verb, and you reduplicate it [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs as you would a verb], which means ABAB form. Using an adjective in this way is roughly equivalent to using 一下 after the (non-reduplicated) adjective.

=== <span id="Structure_4" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

To use a reduplicated adjective as a predicate, follow this structure:

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + ABAB


</div>
or

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + AB + 一下


</div>
In the pattern above there's no verb, because when an adjective serves as the predicate, it does the job of a verb. Notice also that there's no 的 after the ABAB, because it's not acting as an adjective.

=== <span id="Examples_4" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

<div class="liju">

* 妹妹 快 过 生日 了 ,我 打算 给 她 办 一 个 生日 派对 ,''热闹 热闹'' 。<span class="pinyin">Mèimei kuàiguò shēngrìle, wǒ dǎsuàn gěi tā bàn yīgè shēngrì pàiduì, ''rènao rènao''.</span><span class="trans">My little sister's birthday is coming and I plan to throw her a birthday party and have a blast.</span>
* 来 ,喝 点 酒 ,''高兴 高兴'' 。<span class="pinyin">Lái, hē diǎn jiǔ, ''gāoxìng gāoxìng''.</span><span class="trans">Come on, have a little wine and enjoy yourself.</span>
* 到 这里 来 ''凉快 凉快'' 。<span class="pinyin">Dào zhèlǐ lái ''liángkuai liángkuai''.</span><span class="trans">Come over here and cool off.</span>
* 我 想 去 外面 走走 ,安静 ''一下'' 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qù wàimiàn zǒuzou, ānjìng ''yīxià''.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to take a walk outside. Spend some alone time.</span>
* 想 不 想 去 做 个 按摩 ,''放松 一下'' 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎng bu xiǎng qù zuò gè ànmó, ''fàngsōng yīxià''.</span><span class="trans">Would you like to go get a massage and unwind?</span>


</div>
'''Note:''' The &quot;AABB&quot; pattern for reduplication of two-syllable adjectives contrasts with the [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs &quot;ABAB&quot; pattern for reduplication of two-syllable verbs].

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* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)] (pp. 53) [http://amzn.to/2femBuy →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2] (pp. 189-90) [http://amzn.to/2ftpILV →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar] (pp. 32-6) [http://amzn.to/2yOtlXc →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC3) New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)] (pp. 50) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4) New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)] (pp. 103-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8A%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)] (pp. 271-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]

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