HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
A来A去 and 说A就A: fixed patterns
想来想去 = think it over and over; 说走就走 = leave on the spot.
Structure
- Verb + 来 + verb + 去
- 说 + verb + 就 + verb
How it works
Verb + 来 + verb + 去 shows an action repeated many times: 想来想去, 走来走去, 找来找去.
说 + verb + 就 + verb shows doing something immediately once it is mentioned: 他说走就走.
Examples
-
我想来想去，还是决定不去了。
After thinking it over and over, I decided not to go.
-
他在房间里走来走去，很着急。
He paced back and forth in the room, very anxious.
-
我找来找去，也没找到我的钥匙。
I searched everywhere but couldn’t find my keys.
-
他说走就走，谁也拦不住。
When he says he’s leaving, he leaves; no one can stop him.
-
我们来一次说走就走的旅行吧！
Let’s take a spur-of-the-moment trip!
Words in these examples (30)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 还是 | háishi | or (in questions); still; had better | HSK 2 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide; decision | HSK 3 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | HSK 1 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; in | HSK 1 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 着急 | zháojí | worried; anxious | HSK 3 |
| 找 | zhǎo | to look for; to find | HSK 1 |
| 也 | yě | also; too | HSK 1 |
| 到 | dào | to arrive; to go to | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 钥匙 | yàoshi | key | HSK 4 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; right away; only | HSK 2 |
| 谁 | shéi/shuí | who | HSK 1 |
| 拦 | lán | to block sb's path; to obstruct; to flag down (a taxi) | HSK 6 |
| 住 | zhù | to live (somewhere); to stay | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | time (occurrence), as in 三次 "three times" | HSK 2 |
| 旅行 | lǚxíng | to travel; trip | HSK 4 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗想去想来
✓想来想去
The fixed order is 来 then 去.
-
✗说就走走
✓说走就走
Pattern: 说 + verb + 就 + verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我看 ，还是这件最好看。
2. 他说 就做，从来不拖。
3. 孩子们在公园里跑 。