How to use reduplications in Mandarin Chinese?

The “AA” type of reduplication consists of a one-syllable (one Chinese character) word. It can be used with nounsNo definition set for nounsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., verbsNo definition set for verbsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., adjectivesNo definition set for adjectivesLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., and adverbs. For example:

• Noun

  • 天 (tiān, day) → 天天 (tiāntiān, every day)

• Verb

  • 走 (zǒu, to walk) → 走走 (zǒuzou, to take a stroll outside for a bit)

    • Note: In this case, the second word's tone changes to the neutral tone.

• Adjective

  • 
    小 (xiǎo, small) → 小小的 (xiǎoxiǎo de, small and cute)

• Adverb

  • 常 (cháng, often) → 常常 (chángcháng, often)

To use the “A + 一 (yī) + A” type of reduplications, follow this pattern:

This type is a variety of the AA verb type, and is often used with monosyllabic verbs, as well. This variety and the AA type are interchangeable. For example:

Like the “A + 一 (yī) + A” reduplications, “A + 了 (le) + A” reduplications are also a variety of the AA verb type with monosyllabic verbs, but “verb + 了 + verb” is for past events only.

For example:

了 (le) here tends to express a past event, for example:

The “AAB” reduplications type is for a verb-object structure, such as 唱歌 (chànggē, to sing a song). Here, 唱 (chàng, to sing) is the verb and 歌 (gē, song) is the objectNo definition set for objectLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. In the verb-object structure, only the verb is repeated. For example:

• 唱唱歌 (chàngchang gē, to sing for a bit)
• 跳跳舞 (tiàotiao wǔ, to dance for a bit)
• 游游泳 (yóuyou yǒng, to swim for a bit)

The “ABAB” type of reduplications is for verbs with two syllables (two Chinese characters), and the entire word is repeated. For example:

• 讨论 (tǎolùn, to discuss) → 讨论讨论 (tǎolùn tǎolùn, to discuss a bit)

• 参观 (cānguān, to visit) → 参观参观 (cānguān cānguān, to casually visit)

• 凉快 (liángkuai, to cool down) → 凉快凉快 (liángkuai liángkuai, to cool down a bit)

AABB reduplications are for adjectives with two syllables (two Chinese characters), but each character is repeated individually (rather than the whole word). For example:

• 热闹 (rènao, lively) → 热热闹闹 (rère nāonāo, buzzing with excitement)

• 漂亮 (piàoliang, pretty) → 漂漂亮亮 (piàopiao liāngliāng, very pretty)

• 高兴 (gāoxìng, happy) → 高高兴兴 (gāogāo xìngxìng, cheerful)

In the case of the AABB type, a tone change may occur in some words. For example, a tone change occurs in the first two examples: the second word changes to a neutral tone and the third and fourth words change to the first tone. However, a tone change does not apply in the final example above.

The”AA/AABB + 的 (de)” type mostly suits adjectives, for both AA and AABB types. The particle 的 (de) here is an adjective marker to describe a situation. This structure is widely used, so you can take it as a fixed structure. For example:

• 红红的 (hónghóng de, (lovely) red)
• 高高的 (gāogāo de, (pleasantly) tall)
• 安安静静的 (ānānjìngjìng de, peaceful and serene)

When the adjectives listed here are used by themselves, we don't add 的 (de), but when they are used as reduplications, 的 (de) tends to be added in the end of the pattern. For example:

The reduplication of verbs indicates that something occurs for “a little while” or “a little bit.” For example:

• 走走 (zǒuzou, to have a bit of walk)
• 看看书 (kànkan shū, to read a little)
• 整理整理 (zhěnglǐ zhěnglǐ, to tidy up a little)

An important function of reduplication in Mandarin is to soften the tone, showing modesty and politeness. These are done through the meaning of “a little bit” or “casual,” indicated by the reduplication.

Reduplications can be used in Mandarin Chinese to indicate the speaker’s attitude about something.

The first sentence above simply states the fact, while the second indicates “lovely,” revealing the speaker’s attitude.

Reduplication can also be used to intensify the degree of a claim. For example, take the English sentence below:

The degree of happiness has been intensified through the reduplication of “so” in the second sentence. Like English, this is also the case in Mandarin. For example:

• 漂亮 (piàoliang, pretty) → 漂漂亮亮 (piàopiao liāngliāng, very pretty)

• 天 (tiān, day) → 天天 (tiāntiān, everyday)

• 人 (rén, person) → 人人 (rénrén, everyone)

The above three examples illustrate that reduplication can increase the degree of the claim in question.