Reduplication of Verbs 2 – ABAB

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Grammar · HSK 3
Grammar Point · HSK 3

Reduplication of Verbs 2 — ABAB

Two-syllable verbs are reduplicated as ABAB. Like V一V, it softens the action and makes it sound casual, tentative, or like “just doing it a bit.”

Reduplication of Verbs in Chinese

Take a two-syllable verb AB and say it twice: 讨论 tǎolùn → 讨论讨论 tǎolùn tǎolùn. It’s very common in spoken Chinese, especially for suggestions and trying something out.

1Structure

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 it a bit 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 lots of new friends at this party. Everyone can get to know each other!
出发chūfā前qián检查jiǎnchá检查jiǎnchá行李xíngli比较bǐjiào保险bǎoxiǎn
It’s safer to check your luggage before you leave.
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 take care of your health, too.
工作gōngzuò了le一yì整天zhěngtiān，该gāi休息xiūxi休息xiūxi了le
You’ve worked all day. Time to take a break!
这zhè件jiàn事shì我们wǒmen再zài商量shāngliang商量shāngliang，看kàn看kan有yǒu没有méiyǒu更gèng好hǎo的de办法bànfǎ
Let’s talk this over a bit more and see if there’s a better way.
你nǐ可以kěyǐ每天měitiān花huā一点yìdiǎn时间shíjiān练习liànxi练习liànxi发音fāyīn，会huì进步jìnbù得de更gèng快kuài
Spend a little time practicing your pronunciation every day, and you’ll improve faster.

2Common Mistakes

ABAB already means “a little” or “a bit,” so don’t add 一点 yìdiǎn or 一下 yíxià after it.

❌ 练习liànxi练习liànxi一下yíxià
✅ 练习liànxi练习liànxi
Use either ABAB or AB + 一下 yíxià, not both.
❌ 复习fùxí复习fùxí一点yìdiǎn
✅ 复习fùxí复习fùxí
ABAB already carries the meaning of “a bit,” so 一点 yìdiǎn is redundant.
❌ 讨讨论论tǎotǎolùnlùn
✅ 讨论tǎolùn讨论tǎolùn
AABB is the pattern for adjectives (like 干干净净 gāngānjìngjìng). Verbs repeat as ABAB.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01Let’s rest a bit.
我们wǒmen休息xiūxi休息xiūxi吧ba。
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02You should get some exercise.
你nǐ应该yīnggāi运动yùndòng运动yùndòng。
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03Let me introduce everyone.
我wǒ来lái介绍jièshào介绍jièshào大家dàjiā。
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04Review a little before the exam.
考试kǎoshì前qián复习fùxí复习fùxí。
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05Let’s tidy up the room.
我们wǒmen打扫dǎsǎo打扫dǎsǎo房间fángjiān吧ba。
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06Can you check this for me?
你nǐ可以kěyǐ帮bāng我wǒ检查jiǎnchá检查jiǎnchá这zhè个ge吗ma？
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07You should go out and relax a bit.
你nǐ应该yīnggāi出去chūqù放松fàngsōng放松fàngsōng。
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08Let’s prepare a bit before the meeting.
开会kāihuì前qián我们wǒmen准备zhǔnbèi准备zhǔnbèi。
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→Reduplication of Verbs 1 — V一V, V了V & V一下(HSK 2) →Reduplication of Adjectives — AA的 & AABB的(HSK 2)

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