Doubling adjectives (AA / AABB) · 形容词重叠
A room is ready for a guest
- You describe a room that has been thoroughly tidied.
- 房间干干净净的。 — The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
A room is ready for a guest
- You describe a room that has been thoroughly tidied.
- room房间干干净净(of / 's)的。 — The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
You describe a room that has been thoroughly tidied. What does 房间干干净净的。 communicate?
The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room. 干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective. 雪白 can use 雪白雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Doubling adjectives (AA / AABB). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
the baby宝宝的eyes眼睛big and round大大的。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Double 大 to describe round eyes: ____ 的眼睛 (write the doubled form).
One-syllable adjectives double as AA: 大 → 大大(的). · 单音节形容词按 AA 重叠:大 → 大大(的)。
Read examples in context
I我want to想comfortably舒舒服服地lie躺on在the sofa沙发上。
- In the opening example, 房间干干净净的。: The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
I我want to想comfortably舒舒服服地lie躺on在the sofa沙发上。
- In the opening example, room房间干干净净(of / 's)的。: The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Reduplicate the two-syllable adjective 高兴 (happy): · 把双音节形容词 高兴 重叠:
For 高兴 the adjective form is 高高兴兴. Not every two-character adjective uses AABB.
Match each doubled form to what it modifies. · 把每种重叠形式和它修饰的对象配对。
- 的 paints a noun (大大的眼睛); + 地 colours a verb (舒舒服服地躺). · + 的 修饰名词(大大的眼睛);+ 地 修饰动词(舒舒服服地躺)。
Know the boundary
- 干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective.
- 雪白 can use 雪白雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms.
Know the boundary
- clean干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective.
- snow white雪白 can use snow white雪白snow white雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms.
You can say 很高高兴兴 (very + doubled adjective). · 可以说 很高高兴兴(很 + 重叠形容词)。
很高高兴兴 is not the ordinary adjective pattern; 高高兴兴 already provides the vivid descriptive form.
Every two-character adjective must use AABB when repeated.
干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective. 雪白 can use 雪白雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms. The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
Use the distinction
- The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
- 干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective. 雪白 can use 雪白雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Reduplication of adjectives.
Use the distinction
- The repeated adjective gives a vivid description of the clean room.
- clean干净 can become 干干净净, but this is a lexical pattern, not a rule for every two-character adjective. snow white雪白 can use snow white雪白snow white雪白 rather than AABB. Learn attested forms.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Reduplication of adjectives.