Reduplication of Verbs in Chinese

Reduplication of Verbs 2 – ABAB

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
The ABAB form is a common way to soften the tone of an action, making it sound more casual, tentative, or informal. It is frequently used in spoken Chinese to suggest trying something out or doing it briefly.

Structure

Two-Syllable Verbs – ABAB

我们wǒmen先xiān讨论tǎolùn讨论tǎolùn， 再zài决定juédìng吧ba
Let’s discuss a little first, then decide!

这zhè次cì聚会jùhuì有yǒu很hěn多duō新xīn朋友péngyou， 大家dàjiā可以kěyǐ互相hùxiāng认识rènshi认识rènshi！
There are many new friends at this gathering; everyone can get to know each other!

出发chūfā前qián检查jiǎnchá检查jiǎnchá行李xínglǐ比较bǐjiào保险bǎoxiǎn
It’s safer to check the luggage before leaving.

你nǐ最近zuìjìn太tài忙máng了le， 也yě要yào关心guānxīn关心guānxīn自己zìjǐ的de健康jiànkāng
You’ve been so busy lately; you should also take care of your health.

工作gōngzuò了le一yì整天zhěngtiān， 该gāi休息xiūxi休息xiūxi了le
You’ve been working all day; it’s time to take a break!

这zhè件jiàn事shì我们wǒmen再zài商量shāngliang商量shāngliang， 看看kànkàn有yǒu没有méiyǒu更gèng好hǎo的de办法bànfǎ
Let’s discuss this a bit more and see if there’s a better solution.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ每天měitiān花huā一点yìdiǎn时间shíjiān练习liànxi练习liànxi发音fāyìn， 会huì进步jìnbù得de更gèng快kuài
You can spend a little time practicing pronunciation every day, and you’ll improve faster.

Common Mistakes

Since the ABAB verb reduplication already conveys the meaning of “a little” or “a bit,” so you should not add 一点 yìdiǎn or 一下 yíxià after it.

练习liànxi练习liànxi一下yíxià ❌ 
Practice a little.

复习fùxí复习fùxí一点yìdiǎn ❌ 
Review a little.

Do you like it? 🙂