HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
Doubling verbs and adjectives: 看看, 高高兴兴
Doubling a verb makes it softer, “have a quick…”: 你看看. Doubling adjectives adds feeling.
Structure
- Verb + verb (看看) / verb + 一 + verb (看一看)
- Adjective AA / AABB
How it works
A doubled verb means “do it a little, have a go”: 看看 have a look, 试试 give it a try, 休息休息 rest a bit. It sounds relaxed and polite.
One-syllable verbs can also take 一: 看一看. Two-syllable verbs double as ABAB: 介绍介绍.
Doubled adjectives add vividness: 高高的, 慢慢地, 高高兴兴地. They don’t take 很.
Examples
-
你看看这本书，很有意思。
Nǐ kàn kàn zhè běn shū, hěn yǒuyìsi.
Have a look at this book. It’s interesting.
-
我们休息休息吧。
Wǒmen xiūxi xiūxi ba.
Let’s take a little rest.
-
你试一试这件衣服。
Nǐ shì yí shì zhè jiàn yīfu.
Try this on.
-
他高高兴兴地回家了。
Tā gāo gāoxìng xīng de huí jiā le.
He went home happily.
-
请你慢慢说。
Qǐng nǐ màn màn shuō.
Please speak slowly.
Words in these examples (24)
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 有意思 | yǒuyìsi | interesting; fun | HSK 2 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest; rest | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 试 | shì | to try | HSK 3 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes, matters, items) | HSK 1 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 高 | gāo | tall; high | HSK 2 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | HSK 1 |
| 地 | de | (particle before a verb, like English "-ly") | HSK 2 |
| 回 | huí | to return; to go back | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | HSK 1 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗你看看了这本书吗？
✓你看了这本书吗？
Doubled verbs don’t usually take 了 in questions about the past.
-
✗很高高的
✓高高的
Doubled adjectives don’t take 很.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 这个菜很好吃，你尝 。
2. 我给你们介绍 。
3. 他 地走了进来。