▎Reduplication of Disyllabic Verbs for Tentative Action (4)

 

Function When verbs, monosyllabic or disyllabic, are reduplicated, the commitment to the action is reduced. This pattern generally occurs in imperative sentences, with a polite overtone.

1 今天學的漢字，我還得練習練習。

Jīntiān xué de Hànzì, wǒ hái děi liànxí liànxí.

I still need to practice a bit more the Chinese characters I studied today.

2 你有空的時候，應該去旅行。多認識認識一些臺灣朋友。

Nǐ yǒu kòng de shíhòu, yīnggāi qù lǚxíng. Duō rènshì rènshì yìxiē Táiwān péngyǒu.

When you have time, you should travel and make some Taiwanese friends.

3 我想了解了解你是怎麼學中文的，為什麼說得這麼流利。

Wǒ xiǎng liǎojiě liǎojiě nǐ shì zěnme xué Zhōngwén de, wèishénme shuō de zhème liúlì.

I’d like to better understand how you learned Chinese, and why you can speak so fluently.

 

Structures The reduplication of disyllabic action verbs is an expansion from AB to ABAB.

Negation：

1

下星期要考試，你怎麼不準備準備呢？

Xià xīngqí yào kǎoshì, nǐ zěnme bù zhǔnbèi zhǔnbèi ne?

There is a test next week. Why aren’t you preparing for it?

2 你不練習練習寫字，聽寫怎麼考得好？

Nǐ bú liànxí liànxí xiě zì, tīngxiě zěnme kǎo de hǎo?

You don’t practice writing. How are you going to do well on the dictation?

3 我們不參觀參觀，怎麼知道這個學校好不好？

Wǒmen bù cānguān cānguān, zěnme zhīdào zhè ge xuéxiào hǎo bù hǎo?

If we don’t take a look around how are we going to know if this is a good school or not?

Questions：

1 我是妳男朋友，妳是不是應該多關心關心我？

Wǒ shì nǐ nánpéngyǒu, nǐ shìbúshì yīnggāi duō guānxīn guānxīn wǒ?

I’m your boyfriend. Shouldn’t you show a little more concern?

2 這個週末，你要不要在家休息休息？

Zhè ge zhōumò, nǐ yào bú yào zài jiā xiūxí xiūxí?

Are you going to take a break at home this weekend?

3 我有什麼機會可以認識認識新朋友？

Wǒ yǒu shénme jīhuì kěyǐ rènshì rènshì xīn péngyǒu?

Are there any opportunities for me to really get to know some new friends?

 

Usage Since reduplication already indicates reduction (in commitment), reduplicated forms do not occur with 一下yíxià ‘a bit’ or 一點yìdiǎn ‘a little’, which also indicates reduction, i.e., incompatible or redundant.

1 ＊我得練習練習一下。

＊Wǒ děi liànxí liànxí yíxià.

I need to practice a bit.

2 ＊你得關心關心她一點。

＊Nǐ děi guānxīn guānxīn tā yìdiǎn.

You need to show her a little concern.