To try – VV看 kàn

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, the structure VV看 kàn is used to indicate an attempt or trial. It conveys the idea of trying to do something or attempting an action.

Structure

One-syllable verb Reduplication + 看 kàn

When using this structure, it is common to move the object to the front as the topic instead of placing it right after the verb as usual.

這zhè是shì我wǒ做zuò的de蛋糕dàngāo， 你nǐ吃吃看chīchīkàn这zhè是shì我wǒ做zuò的de蛋糕dàngāo， 你nǐ吃吃看chīchīkàn
This is the cake I made, why don’t you give it a try?

我wǒ想xiǎng試試看shìshìkàn自己zìjǐ一個人yígerén旅遊lǚyóu我wǒ想xiǎng试试看shìshìkàn自己zìjǐ一个人yígerén旅游lǚyóu
I want to try traveling alone.
(Special case that object is not moving to the front.)

你nǐ有yǒu什麼shénme想法xiǎngfǎ都dōu可以kěyǐ說說看shuōshuōkàn你nǐ有yǒu什么shénme想法xiǎngfǎ都dōu可以kěyǐ说说看shuōshuōkàn
Feel free to share any thoughts you have.

那個nàge遊戲yóuxì可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ玩玩看wánwánkàn嗎ma？ 那个nàge游戏yóuxì可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ玩玩看wánwánkàn吗ma？
Can I borrow that game to try it out?

這zhè首shǒu歌gē很hěn好聽hǎotīng， 有yǒu機會jīhuì你nǐ應該yīnggāi聽聽看tīngtīngkàn这zhè首shǒu歌gē很hěn好听hǎotīng， 有yǒu机会jīhuì你nǐ应该yīnggāi听听看tīngtīngkàn
This song is really nice, you should give it a listen when you have the chance.

你nǐ幫bāng我wǒ看看kànkàn我wǒ寫xiě的de中文zhōngwén對不對duìbúduì你nǐ帮bāng我wǒ看看kànkàn我wǒ写xiě的de中文zhōngwén对不对duìbúduì
Can you check if my Chinese writing is correct?
(看 kàn is the only verb that does not need an additional 看 kàn added to it.)

In Taiwan, sometimes you might hear the structure “V看看 kànkàn,” which is actually incorrect but used by many people. It actually means “VV看 kàn.”

你nǐ喝看看hēkànkàn， 我wǒ覺得juéde這個zhège很hěn好喝hǎohē你nǐ喝看看hēkànkàn， 我wǒ觉得juéde这个zhège很hěn好喝hǎohē
Give it a try. I think it’s very tasty.