Verb reduplication (do a bit / give it a try) · 动词重叠
A short trial is offered politely
- You ask a friend to look briefly at a draft.
- 你看看这个吧。 — Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
A short trial is offered politely
- You ask a friend to look briefly at a draft.
- you你to take a look at看看this这个(suggestion)吧。 — Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
You ask a friend to look briefly at a draft. What does 你看看这个吧。 communicate?
Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action. Use 看看 or 看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and 休息休息 for 休息. Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use 看了看 rather than adding 了 anywhere.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Verb reduplication (do a bit / give it a try). 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.
you你have a look看看this这(measure word)个。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Soften “look” into “have a look”: 你 ____ 这个。
Doubling the verb softens it: 看 → 看看 (have a look). · 动词重叠使语气柔和:看 → 看看。
Read examples in context
we我们rest休息rest休息吧。
- In the opening example, 你看看这个吧。: Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
we我们rest休息rest休息吧。
- In the opening example, you你to take a look at看看this这个(suggestion)吧。: Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which sounds softer / more casual? · 哪个更柔和 / 随意?
Reduplication = brief, relaxed: 你看看 is gentler than 你看. · 重叠 = 短暂、轻松:你看看 比 你看 更柔和。
Build: “Have a look at this.” · 排一排:“你看看这个。”
Subj + Verb-Verb + Obj: 你 + 看看 + 这个. · 主语 + 动词重叠 + 宾语:你 + 看看 + 这个。
Know the boundary
- Use 看看 or 看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and 休息休息 for 休息.
- Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use 看了看 rather than adding 了 anywhere.
Know the boundary
- Use to take a look at看看 or to have a look看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and rest休息rest休息 for rest休息.
- Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use to see看(completed / change)了to see看 rather than adding (completed / change)了 anywhere.
A two-syllable verb reduplicates as 休息休息 (ABAB). · 双音节动词重叠为 休息休息(ABAB)。
Yes: one-syllable 看看, two-syllable 休息休息. · 对:单音节 看看,双音节 休息休息。
In the opening situation: Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
Use 看看 or 看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and 休息休息 for 休息. Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use 看了看 rather than adding 了 anywhere. Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
Use the distinction
- Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
- Use 看看 or 看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and 休息休息 for 休息. Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use 看了看 rather than adding 了 anywhere.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Verb phrases.
Use the distinction
- Reduplication presents looking as a brief, lighter action.
- Use to take a look at看看 or to have a look看一看 for this single-syllable verb, and rest休息rest休息 for rest休息. Not every verb naturally reduplicates; completed trials can use to see看(completed / change)了to see看 rather than adding (completed / change)了 anywhere.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Verb phrases.