Grammar Point · HSK 2
Reduplication of Adjectives — AA的 & AABB的/地
Repeating an adjective intensifies it, a bit like adding 很 hěn. But it also shows the speaker’s subjective feeling, not just an objective fact.
It’s common in both spoken and written Chinese, and adds a sense of lightness, warmth, or emphasis to a description, especially in praise, criticism, baby talk, and storytelling.
1Structure
AA的 de: one-syllable adjectives
這個糖甜甜的，真好吃
这个糖甜甜的，真好吃
This candy is nice and sweet. So good!
我喜歡高高瘦瘦的男生
我喜欢高高瘦瘦的男生
I like tall, slim guys.
我的狗胖胖的，腿短短的
我的狗胖胖的，腿短短的
My dog is chubby, with short little legs.
巫婆拿出了紅紅的蘋果給白雪公主
巫婆拿出了红红的苹果给白雪公主
The witch took out a bright red apple for Snow White.
告訴媽媽，小小的狗狗在哪裡？
告诉妈妈，小小的狗狗在哪里？
Tell Mommy, where’s the little doggy?
AABB的 de (+ N): two-syllable adjectives
加拿大人一直都是客客氣氣的嗎？
加拿大人一直都是客客气气的吗？
Are Canadians always so polite?
輕輕鬆鬆的工作很難找
轻轻松松的工作很难找
An easy, relaxed job is hard to find.
灰姑娘的姐姐每天都穿得漂漂亮亮的
灰姑娘的姐姐每天都穿得漂漂亮亮的
Cinderella’s stepsister dresses up beautifully every day.
我只想過平平穩穩的生活
我只想过平平稳稳的生活
I just want to live a calm, steady life.
乾乾淨淨的二手包才能賣好價錢
干干净净的二手包才能卖好价钱
Only a nice, clean second-hand bag can sell for a good price.
AABB地 de + V: two-syllable adjectives describing an action
我們今天就舒舒服服地躺在家看電視吧
我们今天就舒舒服服地躺在家看电视吧
Let’s just stay home today, comfy on the couch watching TV.
所有的書都整整齊齊地放在書櫃裡
所有的书都整整齐齐地放在书柜里
All the books are neatly lined up in the bookcase.
她坐在長椅上，安安靜靜地看著書
她坐在长椅上，安安静静地看着书
She sat on the bench, quietly reading a book.
請你認認真真地回答我
请你认认真真地回答我
Please answer me seriously.
從此以後，王子就和公主快快樂樂地生活在一起
从此以后，王子就和公主快快乐乐地生活在一起
And from then on, the prince and princess lived happily ever after.
2Common Mistakes
❌
你家真的很乾乾淨淨的
你家真的很干干净净的
✅
你家真的乾乾淨淨的
你家真的干干净净的
A reduplicated adjective is already intensified, so don’t add a degree adverb like 很 hěn.
❌
給我一杯大大的咖啡
给我一杯大大的咖啡
✅
給我一杯大杯的咖啡
给我一杯大杯的咖啡
A large size is an objective fact, not a subjective feeling, so don’t reduplicate it.
❌
這個水果甜甜
这个水果甜甜
✅
這個水果甜甜的
这个水果甜甜的
AA needs 的 de after it.
❌
你每天都快樂快樂嗎？
你每天都快乐快乐吗？
✅
你每天都快快樂樂的嗎？
你每天都快快乐乐的吗？
Two-syllable adjectives repeat as AABB, not ABAB.
3Not All Adjectives Can Be Reduplicated
Not every adjective can be repeated, and there’s no simple rule for which ones can. You just have to remember them. Here are some common adjectives that can’t be reduplicated:
貴贵guìguì
expensive
便宜便宜piányípiányi
cheap
近近jìnjìn
near
遠远yuǎnyuǎn
far
新新xīnxīn
new
多多duōduō
many
忙忙mángmáng
busy
累累lèilèi
tired
無聊没有意思wúliáoméiyǒu yìsi
bored
不錯不错búcuòbúcuò
not bad
喜歡喜欢xǐhuānxǐhuan
like
討厭讨厌tǎoyàntǎoyàn
hate
有名有名yǒumíngyǒumíng
famous
方便方便fāngbiànfāngbiàn
convenient
好吃好吃hǎochīhǎochī
delicious
複雜复杂fùzáfùzá
complicated
美麗美丽měilìměilì
beautiful
強强qiángqiáng
strong
年輕年轻niánqīngniánqīng
young
難难nánnán
difficult
容易容易róngyìróngyì
easy
有趣有意思yǒuqùyǒu yìsi
interesting
緊張紧张jǐnzhāngjǐnzhāng
nervous
難過难过nánguònánguò
sad
4Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01Her face is round.
她的臉圓圓的
她的脸圆圆的。
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02This bread is nice and soft.
這個麵包軟軟的
这个面包软软的。
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03I like long hair.
我喜歡長長的頭髮
我喜欢长长的头发。
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04The room is all clean and tidy.
房間乾乾淨淨的
房间干干净净的。
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05Let’s have a happy, fun time today!
我們今天快快樂樂地玩吧
我们今天快快乐乐地玩吧！
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06Please speak slowly.
請你慢慢地說
请你慢慢地说。
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07He carefully finished his homework.
他認認真真地寫完了作業
他认认真真地写完了作业。
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08The coffee is nice and hot.
咖啡熱熱的
咖啡热热的。
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