The Adjective Reduplication – 形容词重叠

The Adjective Reduplication

In Chinese, some adjectives can be reduplicated to emphasize a deep degree or to show one`s affection. There are mainly two forms of adjective reduplication in Chinese, which are AA and AABB.

Monosyllabic adjectives

The common forms:

AA的

For instance: 大，小，甜，长……

（Here A represents the monosyllabic adjective. Not all adjectives could be reduplicated in natural speech. In most cases, the words that can reduplicate are about colours, sizes, shapes and other physical descriptions.）

Note:

1. When the adjective reduplication serves as the predicate or follows a modified word, “的” needs to be put after the reduplication and before the modified words.

e.g.

他有大大的手。(Tā yǒu dàdà de shǒu.) He has big hands.

✘ 他有大大手的。Or 他有手大大的。

2. When we use the reduplication of adjectives, it can`t be added the degree adverb before it, such as “很” “非常” “特别” “相当” and etc.

e.g.

这个苹果甜甜的。(Zhège píngguǒ tiántián de.) This apple is sweet.

✘ 这个苹果很甜甜的。

Disyllabic verbs:

The common form:

AABB

For instance: 高兴，整齐，干净，漂亮……

(Not all disyllabic adjectives can take AABB form.)

e.g.

高高兴兴 (gāo gāo xìng xìng)

整整齐齐 (zhěng zhěng qí qí)

干干净净 (gān gān jìng jìng)

漂漂亮亮 (piào piào liàng liàng)

When it’s used as an adjective to be a predicate or modify a noun:

AABB + 的

e.g.

你看，我的房间干干净净的。(Nǐ kàn, wǒ de fángjiān gāngānjìngjìng de.) You see, my room is clean.

她真是个漂漂亮亮的小姑娘。(Tā zhēnshi gè piàopiàoliàngliàng de xiǎo gūniáng.) She is really a beautiful girl.

When it’s used as an adverb to modify verbs:

AABB + 地 + Verb

e.g.

我清清楚楚地听到她上楼了。(Wǒ qīng qīng chǔ chǔ de tīng dào tā shàng lóule.) I heard her coming upstairs clearly.

你辛辛苦苦地工作，同事却舒舒服服地休息。(Nǐ xīn xīn kǔ kǔ de gōngzuò, tóngshì què shū shū fú fú de xiūxi.) You work hard, but your colleagues rest comfortably.