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
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。 The students are all nervous, they are all pacing back and forth outside of the exam room.
- 他 说 来 说 去 还 不 承认 自己 错 了。 He's been yakking a lot, but he still hasn't admitted that he's wrong.
- 我 想 来 想 去 都 想 不 明白，他 怎么 能 那样 对 我？ I've thought and thought about it, but I can't understand, how could you treat me like that?
- 他 翻 来 翻 去， 终于 找到 了 那 双 破 袜子。 He searched everywhere and finally found the pair of worn-out socks.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 191-2)