Jump to: [navigation](#mw-head "wikilink"), [search](#p-search "wikilink")
[![](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-250_60.jpg "fig:Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-250_60.jpg")](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
[![](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/Wiki-title.png "fig:Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/Wiki-title.png")](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Main_Page)
- [Main Page](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Main_Page) - [Learner FAQ](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Learner_FAQ) - [Grammar Points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Grammar_points_by_level) - [Chinese Keywords](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Keywords) - [Word Translations](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Translations) - [Textbook Index](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_textbook_grammar_index) - [Chinese Forums](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Forums) - [Acknowledgments](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Acknowledgments) - [Contact Us](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contact) []( "wikilink") Useful Pages - [Reading Tools](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Tools) - [Recent changes](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:RecentChanges) - [Random page](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Random) - [Help](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Help:Contents) - [Newsletter](http://resources.allsetlearning.com/) - []( "wikilink") Tools -
[What links here](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:WhatLinksHere/Reduplication_of_adjectives) -
[Related changes](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Reduplication_of_adjectives) -
[Special pages](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:SpecialPages) -
[Printable version](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Reduplication_of_adjectives&printable=yes) - [Permanent link](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Reduplication_of_adjectives&oldid=40264) -
[Page information](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Reduplication_of_adjectives&action=info)
[![](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg "fig:Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg")](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
[![](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png "fig:Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png")](# "wikilink") Reduplication of adjectives ===========================
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Simple "noun + adjective" sentences](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simple_%22noun_%2B_adjective%22_sentences) (A1) - [Reduplication of verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs) (A2)
-
Used for
[Expressing quality](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quality)
-
Keywords
[的](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%9A%84)
[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-1.jpg](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-1.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-1.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-1.jpg)
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.
Contents --------  [hide]([# "wikilink")\] 
- [1 One-Syllable Adjectives (AA)](#One-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AA.29 "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB)](#Two-Syllable_Adjectives_.28AABB.29 "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 Used as Adverbs (AABB)](#Used_as_Adverbs_.28AABB.29 "wikilink") - [3.1 Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink") - [3.2 Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink") - [4 Used as Predicates (ABAB)](#Used_as_Predicates_.28ABAB.29 "wikilink") - [4.1 Structure](#Structure_4 "wikilink") - [4.2 Examples](#Examples_4 "wikilink") - [5 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [5.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")
One-Syllable Adjectives (AA) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 "AA" pattern. ### Structure
Adj. + Adj. + 的 (+ Noun)
Another way of putting that (and we'll be using this form more extensively below) is:
A A + 的 (+ Noun)
Note that this pattern is also identical to [single-syllable reduplication of verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs). ### Examples
- 你 的 脸 *红 红 的* 。Nǐ de liǎn *hóng hóng de*.Your face is red. - 宝宝 的 眼睛 *大 大 的* 。Bǎobao de yǎnjīng *dà dà de*.The baby's eyes are big. - 今晚 的 月亮 *圆 圆 的* 。Jīnwǎn de yuèliàng *yuán yuán de*.The moon is round tonight. - 她 爸爸 *高 高 胖 胖 的* 。Tā bàba *gāo gāo pàng pàng de*.Her father is tall and fat. - 我 妹妹 *瘦 瘦 小 小 的* 。Wǒ mèimei *shòu shòu xiǎo xiǎo de*.My little sister is thin and small.
Two-Syllable Adjectives (AABB) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 "AABB" pattern. ### Structure In the structure below, the original two-character adjective (such as 高兴, 漂亮) is "AB," where the first character of the adjective is represented by "A," and the second by "B."
A A B B + 的 (+ Noun)
### Examples Not all two-syllable adjectives are used in AABB form, but here are some common examples of AB adjectives represented in AABB form.
- 高兴 → 高高兴兴 gāoxìng → gāo gāo xìng xìnghappy - 热闹 → 热热闹闹 rènao → rè rè nāo nāoexciting - 漂亮 → 漂漂亮亮 piàoliang → piào piào liāng liāngpretty - 舒服 → 舒舒服服 shūfu → shū shū fū fūcomfortable - 安静 → 安安静静 ānjìng → ān ān jìng jìngpeaceful
Not all adjectives can take AABB form. Here are some examples of common adjectives that don't work in AABB form.
- 好吃 → **好好吃吃** hǎochī → **hǎo hǎo chī chī** tasty - 便宜 → **便便宜宜** piányi → **piánpiányīyī**cheap - 麻烦 → **麻麻烦烦** máfan → **má má fán fán** bothersome
Used as Adverbs (AABB) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When adjectives are used as [adverbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb) to modify verbs, you can reduplicate the adjective using the AABB pattern. ### Structure
AABB + 地 + Verb
### Examples
- 我们 *清清楚楚* **地** 看到 他 跟 一 个 胖 胖 的 男人 上 车 了 。Wǒmen *qīng qīng chǔ chǔ* **de** kàndào tā gēn yīgè pàng pàng de nánrén shàngchē le.We clearly saw him get in the car with a fat man. - 我 真 想 *舒舒服服* **地** 躺 在 沙发 上 看 电视 。Wǒ zhēn xiǎng *shū shū fū fū* **de** tǎng zài shāfā shàng kàn diànshì.I'd really like to comfortably lie on the couch and watch TV. - 你 妈妈 *辛辛苦苦* **地** 做 了 两 个 小时 的 饭,你 怎么 不 吃 ?辛辛苦苦 is difficult to translate into English directly!Nǐ māma *xīn xīn kǔ kǔ* **de** zuò le liǎng gè xiǎoshí de fàn, nǐ zěnme bù chī?Your mother labored over this meal for two hours, and you aren't going to eat it?
Used as Predicates (ABAB) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you use an [adjective](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adjective) as a [predicate](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Predicate), then you're basically using the adjective like a verb, and you reduplicate it [as you would a verb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs), which means ABAB form. Using an adjective in this way is roughly equivalent to using 一下 after the (non-reduplicated) adjective. ### Structure To use a reduplicated adjective as a predicate, follow this structure:
Subj. + ABAB
or
Subj. + AB + 一下
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. ### Examples
- 妹妹 快 过 生日 了 ,我 打算 给 她 办 一 个 生日 派对 ,*热闹 热闹* 。Mèimei kuàiguò shēngrìle, wǒ dǎsuàn gěi tā bàn yīgè shēngrì pàiduì, *rènao rènao*.My little sister's birthday is coming and I plan to throw her a birthday party and have a blast. - 来 ,喝 点 酒 ,*高兴 高兴* 。Lái, hē diǎn jiǔ, *gāoxìng gāoxìng*.Come on, have a little wine and enjoy yourself. - 到 这里 来 *凉快 凉快* 。Dào zhèlǐ lái *liángkuai liángkuai*.Come over here and cool off. - 我 想 去 外面 走走 ,安静 *一下* 。Wǒ xiǎng qù wàimiàn zǒuzou, ānjìng *yīxià*.I'd like to take a walk outside. Spend some alone time. - 想 不 想 去 做 个 按摩 ,*放松 一下* 。Xiǎng bu xiǎng qù zuò gè ànmó, *fàngsōng yīxià*.Would you like to go get a massage and unwind?
**Note:** The "AABB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable adjectives contrasts with the ["ABAB" pattern for reduplication of two-syllable verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs). Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 53) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp. 189-90) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV) - [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar) (pp. 32-6) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2yOtlXc) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)](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)) (pp. 50) [→buy](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) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)](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)) (pp. 103-4) [→buy](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) - [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)](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) (pp. 271-2) [→buy](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)
[![](Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-500_120.jpg "fig:Reduplication%20of%20adjectives%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-500_120.jpg")](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
Retrieved from "