Menu
Measure word + Measure word
AA
Most of the measure words can be overlapped, except for measure words of double syllables, currency units, time units, and indefinite quantifiers. When overlapping, it means “every one of them” and “all of them”.
1）The reduplication of measure words is often used as a subject.
e.g.
年年都去中国旅游。(Nián nián dōu qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu.) Travel to China every year.
家家都有电视。(Jiā jiā dōu yǒu diànshì.) Every family has a TV.
个个都不喜欢这本书。(Gè gè dōu bù xǐhuān zhè běn shū.) All of them don’t like this book.
2）Some measure words can also be used as attributes.
e.g.
条条大路通罗马。(Tiáo tiáo dàlù tōng luómǎ.) All roads lead to Rome.
顿顿饭都是我做的。(Dùn dùn fàn dōu shì wǒ zuò de.) I made all the meals.
件件衣服都洗不干净。(Jiàn jiàn yīfu dōu xǐ bù gānjìng.) Every piece of clothing can’t be washed clean.
When a numeral is added with a measure word, there are two ways of overlap.
一 + Measure word + Measure word
一AA
一个个，一张张，一对对，一双双，一遍遍，一天天……
Numeral + Measure word + Numeral + Measure word
Num + A + Num + A
一个一个，两个两个，一张一张，一对一对，一双一双，一遍一遍，一天一天……
1） This reduplication form can be used as an attribute, which refers to the form of existence of things with a style or description. There is often “的” after it.
e.g.
他从桌子里拿出一包一包的糖。(Tā cóng zhuōzi lǐ ná chū yī bāo yī bāo de táng.) He took out bags of candies from the table.
>> 一包一包 emphasizes the shape of the candy, bags of candies.
公园里全是一对一对的夫妻。(Gōngyuán lǐ quán shì yī duì yī duì de fūqī.) The park is full of couples.
>> 一对一对 emphasizes they are in a pair.
图书馆里放着一排一排的书。(Túshū guǎn lǐ fàngzhe yī pái yī pái de shū.) There are rows of books in the library.
>> 一排一排 emphasizes the arrangement style of the books.
2） This reduplication form can be used as an adverbial， which indicates “one by one” or repetition.
e.g.
你们两个两个地进教室。(Nǐmen liǎng gè liǎng gè de jìn jiàoshì.) You enter the classroom two by two.
>> Two by two
我们每天早上一遍一遍地读中文书。(Wǒmen měitiān zǎoshang yībiàn yībiàn de dú Zhōngwén shū.) We read Chinese books over and over again every morning.
>> It indicates read over and over again, many times.
日子一天一天过去了。(Rìzi yītiān yītiān guòqùle.) The days passed day by day.
>> It emphasizes how the days have passed, which is day by day.
Note that in this case, “地” is optional.
3） This reduplication form can be used as a subject, which refers to “everyone” with the style of description.
e.g.
这些书一本一本又旧又重。(Zhèxiē shū yī běn yī běn yòu jiù yòu zhòng.) These books are old and heavy.
>> 一本一本 means every books of these.
一间一间全是新教室。(Yī jiàn yī jiàn quán shì xīn jiàoshì.) Each of these is new classroom.
>> 一间一间 indicates each of the classrooms.
听到声音，一家一家都开了门。(Tīng dào shēngyīn, yī jiā yī jiā dōu kāi le mén.) Hearing the sound, every family opened the door.
>> 一家一家 indicates every family.
With a premium membership, you can access all 30 questions about “The Numeral-measure reduplication – 数量词重叠“, as well as online exercises for all grammar points.
