Chinese loves four-character expressions. Two very common patterns are 大A大B dà A dà B and 有A有B yǒu A yǒu B. Once you know how they work, you’ll spot them everywhere, and you’ll sound a lot more natural using them.
一 大A大B: Big and Over the Top
大 + A + 大 + B
A and B are usually related words (fish and meat, eat and drink, argue and shout). 大 dà in front of each one makes it big, loud, or over the top.
大魚大肉 dàyú dàròu大鱼大肉 dàyú dàròu · a lavish meal; lots of rich food
Literally “big fish, big meat.” Often used after 天天 tiāntiān or 每天 měitiān (“every day”).
我奶奶覺得觉得過年过年一定要大魚大肉大鱼大肉
My grandma thinks Chinese New Year has to be a big feast.
天天大魚大肉大鱼大肉，難怪难怪你胖了
Rich food every day? No wonder you’ve put on weight. 😅
大吃大喝 dàchī dàhē · to eat and drink a lot; to feast
Works like a verb, but it doesn’t take an object.
週末周末我們我们去夜市大吃大喝
This weekend we’re going to feast at the night market.
他每次心情不好就大吃大喝
Every time he’s in a bad mood, he eats and drinks way too much.
大吵大鬧 dàchǎo dànào大吵大闹 dàchǎo dànào · to make a big scene; to kick up a fuss
Works like a verb. Often used for angry customers or kids throwing a tantrum.
那個个客人在餐廳餐厅裡里大吵大鬧大吵大闹
That customer made a huge scene in the restaurant.
小孩子要不到玩具就大吵大鬧大吵大闹
When kids can’t get the toy they want, they throw a tantrum.
大吉大利 dàjí dàlì · great luck and good fortune
A set phrase for wishing someone luck, especially at Chinese New Year or a grand opening.
新年快樂快乐，大吉大利！
Happy New Year, and the best of luck!
祝你們你们的新店大吉大利
Wishing your new shop lots of luck!
Lucky words only!At Chinese New Year, people say lucky phrases like 大吉大利 dàjí dàlì and try hard to avoid unlucky words. If someone accidentally breaks a bowl, everyone quickly says 碎碎平安 suìsuì píng’ān: 碎 suì (broken) sounds like 歲 suì岁 suì (year), so it becomes “peace year after year.” Crisis averted! 🧧
二 有A有B: Both A and B
有 + A + 有 + B
This pattern means there’s both A and B. When A and B are related (talking and laughing, voice and color), it feels full and lively. When they’re opposites (good and bad), it means both sides are there.
有說有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào有说有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào · chatting and laughing happily
Often used with 地 de before a verb, or on its own to describe a happy scene.
他們他们有說有笑有说有笑地走進走进教室
They walked into the classroom chatting and laughing.
吃飯吃饭的時候时候，大家有說有笑有说有笑，很熱鬧热闹
Over dinner, everyone was chatting and laughing. It was really lively.
有頭有臉 yǒutóu yǒuliǎn有头有脸 yǒutóu yǒuliǎn · important; well-known and respected
Literally “has a head, has a face.” Usually used before 的 de + person.
Literally “has sound, has color.” Usually after 得 de: 說得有聲有色说得有声有色, 做得有聲有色做得有声有色.
他把旅行的故事故事說说得有聲有色有声有色
He told the story of his trip so vividly.
她的咖啡店開开得有聲有色有声有色
Her coffee shop is doing really well.
有好有壞 yǒuhǎo yǒuhuài有好有坏 yǒuhǎo yǒuhuài · has both good and bad sides
A and B are opposites here: some good, some bad.
住在大城市有好有壞有好有坏
Living in a big city has its pros and cons.
網路网络上的評論评论有好有壞有好有坏
The online reviews are mixed.
Taiwan says 網路 wǎnglù for “the internet”; mainland China says 网络 wǎngluò.
三 At a Glance
Here are all eight at a glance:
Expression
Meaning
How it’s used
大魚大肉 dàyú dàròu大鱼大肉 dàyú dàròu
lavish meal
noun-like; 天天大魚大肉大鱼大肉
大吃大喝 dàchī dàhē
feast, eat and drink a lot
verb, no object
大吵大鬧 dàchǎo dànào大吵大闹 dàchǎo dànào
make a big scene
verb, no object
大吉大利 dàjí dàlì
great luck
greetings and wishes
有說有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào有说有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào
chatting and laughing
有說有笑有说有笑地 + verb
有頭有臉 yǒutóu yǒuliǎn有头有脸 yǒutóu yǒuliǎn
important, respected
有頭有臉有头有脸的 + person
有聲有色 yǒushēng yǒusè有声有色 yǒushēng yǒusè
vivid, done with flair
verb + 得 + 有聲有色有声有色
有好有壞 yǒuhǎo yǒuhuài有好有坏 yǒuhǎo yǒuhuài
both good and bad
describes a topic
Don’t make up your ownThese are fixed expressions. You can’t freely make new ones by swapping in any words you like. 有說有笑有说有笑 works, but “大說大笑大说大笑” doesn’t. Learn them as whole chunks!
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 我們我们大吃大喝了很多菜
✅ 我們我们大吃大喝了一頓顿
大吃大喝 dàchī dàhē doesn’t take an object. To say how much, add something like 一頓 yí dùn一顿 yí dùn (“a meal”) after it.
❌ 他們他们很有說有笑有说有笑地聊天
✅ 他們他们有說有笑有说有笑地聊天
These four-character expressions are already vivid, so don’t put 很 hěn in front.
❌ 他把故事故事說说有聲有色有声有色
✅ 他把故事故事說说得有聲有色有声有色
To describe how something is done, you need 得 de between the verb and 有聲有色 yǒushēng yǒusè有声有色 yǒushēng yǒusè.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“During Chinese New Year, we have a big feast every day.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
過年过年的時候时候，我們我们天天大魚大肉大鱼大肉
我們過年的時候天天大魚大肉我们过年的时候天天大鱼大肉 is also correct.
天天 tiāntiān + 大魚大肉 dàyú dàròu大鱼大肉 dàyú dàròu = “a big feast every day.”
“Don’t make a scene here!”
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不要在這裡这里大吵大鬧大吵大闹！
大吵大鬧 dàchǎo dànào大吵大闹 dàchǎo dànào works like a verb here.
“Happy New Year! Wishing you lots of luck!”
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❌ Try Again
新年快樂快乐，大吉大利！
A classic New Year greeting. 🧧
“As soon as he gets paid, he goes out and feasts.”
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他一領到领到薪水薪水就大吃大喝
一 yì…就… + 大吃大喝 dàchī dàhē.
“The two of them chatted and laughed the whole way.”
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❌ Try Again
他們他们兩两個个一路上有說有笑有说有笑
有說有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào有说有笑 yǒushuō yǒuxiào describes the happy scene.
