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
Category:
B2 grammar points