A1 Verb Aspects 1 min read かんたん

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Repeat a verb to soften your tone and make an action sound casual, quick, or experimental.

  • For single-syllable verbs, repeat the character: {看看|kànkan} (take a look).
  • For two-syllable verbs, repeat the whole word: {学习学习|xuéxí xuéxí} (study a bit).
  • Insert 'yi' between the two parts for a softer, more natural sound: {走一走|zǒu yī zǒu} (take a walk).
Verb + Verb (AA) or Verb + 一 + Verb (A-yi-A)

Overview

In Chinese, repeating a verb softens the action, making it sound casual or tentative. Single-syllable verbs: AA pattern like 看看 (take a look) or A一A pattern like 走一走 (take a walk). Two-syllable verbs use ABAB pattern: 休息休息 (take a break). This makes requests friendlier and less demanding.

Verb Reduplication Patterns

Type Pattern Example Meaning
Monosyllabic
AA
看看
Take a look
Monosyllabic
A-yi-A
看一看
Take a look
Disyllabic
ABAB
休息休息
Rest a bit
Disyllabic
AB-yi-AB
休息一休息
Rest a bit
Resultative
N/A
看见
Cannot reduplicate
Completed
N/A
看了
Cannot reduplicate

Meanings

Verb reduplication is used to indicate that an action is performed for a short duration, in a casual manner, or as a trial.

1

Trial/Attempt

Doing something to see what happens.

“{尝尝|chángchang}这个菜”

“{试试|shìshi}这件衣服”

2

Short Duration

Doing something for a little while.

“{走一走|zǒu yī zǒu}”

“{聊一聊|liáo yī liáo}”

Reference Table

Reference table for Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + Verb
看看
Affirmative
Verb + 一 + Verb
看一看
Disyllabic
Verb1+Verb2 + Verb1+Verb2
学习学习
Question
Verb + Verb + 吗
看看吗？
Negative
Not applicable
N/A
Suggestion
我们 + Verb + Verb
我们走走

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
请您看一看。

请您看一看。 (Asking someone to check something.)

ニュートラル
你看看。

你看看。 (Asking someone to check something.)

カジュアル
看看！

看看！ (Asking someone to check something.)

スラング
瞅瞅！

瞅瞅！ (Asking someone to check something.)

Verb Reduplication Logic

Verb Reduplication

Purpose

  • 尝试 Trial
  • 短暂 Short duration

Patterns

  • AA Look-look
  • A-yi-A Look-one-look

レベル別の例文

1

你{看看|kànkan}这个。

Take a look at this.

2

我们{走一走|zǒu yī zǒu}吧。

Let's go for a walk.

3

我想{试试|shìshi}。

I want to try it.

4

{听听|tīngting}这首歌。

Listen to this song.

1

你帮我{想一想|xiǎng yī xiǎng}。

Help me think about it.

2

我们{聊一聊|liáo yī liáo}。

Let's have a chat.

3

他想{休息休息|xiūxi xiūxi}。

He wants to rest a bit.

4

请{介绍介绍|jièshào jièshào}你自己。

Please introduce yourself a bit.

1

这件衣服，你{穿穿看|chuān chuān kàn}。

Try wearing this, see how it fits.

2

别担心，{玩一玩|wán yī wán}就好了。

Don't worry, just play for a bit and you'll be fine.

3

我们{研究研究|yánjiū yánjiū}这个方案。

Let's study this proposal a bit.

4

你{考虑考虑|kǎolǜ kǎolǜ}我的建议。

Please consider my suggestion.

1

既然来了，就{参观参观|cānguān cānguān}吧。

Since you're here, take a look around.

2

我需要{整理整理|zhěnglǐ zhěnglǐ}我的思绪。

I need to organize my thoughts a bit.

3

请{准备准备|zhǔnbèi zhǔnbèi}明天的会议。

Please prepare a bit for tomorrow's meeting.

4

我们可以{商量商量|shāngliáng shāngliáng}。

We can discuss it.

1

这事儿得{琢磨琢磨|zuómo zuómo}。

This matter needs some deep thinking.

2

你先{打听打听|dǎting dǎting}情况。

You should inquire about the situation first.

3

这衣服{洗洗|xǐxǐ}就能穿。

Wash it and it'll be ready to wear.

4

他总是{抱怨抱怨|bàoyuàn bàoyuàn}。

He is always complaining a bit.

1

且{坐坐|zuòzuò}，茶马上就好。

Sit for a moment, the tea will be ready soon.

2

这方案还需{推敲推敲|tuīqiāo tuīqiāo}。

This plan needs further scrutiny.

3

我们{叙叙旧|xùxù jiù}吧。

Let's catch up on old times.

4

他{比划比划|bǐhuà bǐhuà}，我就懂了。

He gestured a bit, and I understood.

間違えやすい

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走) 対 Verb + 一下 (yīxià)

Both mean 'a little bit' or 'short duration'.

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走) 対 Verb + 看 (kàn)

Both involve trying.

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走) 対 Verb + 过 (guò)

Both relate to experience.

よくある間違い

✗

看了看了

✓

看看

Reduplication cannot be used with 'le'.
✗

看见看见

✓

看看

Resultative verbs cannot be reduplicated.
✗

吃吃一

✓

吃一吃

The 'yi' must go in the middle.
✗

学习一学习

✓

学习学习

Two-syllable verbs repeat the whole word.
✗

听听了

✓

听听

Reduplication is for non-completed actions.
✗

买买书

✓

买买书

This is correct, but learners often forget the object.
✗

想一想书

✓

想一想

Reduplication usually stands alone.
✗

跑跑看

✓

跑跑

Adding 'kan' is a different structure.
✗

休息一休息

✓

休息休息

While possible, it's less common than AA.
✗

写写了

✓

写写

Again, no 'le'.
✗

喜欢喜欢

✓

喜欢

Stative verbs cannot be reduplicated.
✗

知道知道

✓

知道

Psychological verbs don't reduplicate.
✗

完成完成

✓

完成

Resultative verbs.

文型パターン

我们去___吧。

你帮我___这个。

这事儿得___。

我先___，再决定。

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

大家来看看我的新照片！

Texting constant

聊聊？

Job Interview occasional

请介绍介绍您的工作经验。

Ordering Food common

我尝尝这个。

Travel common

我们去那儿逛逛。

Food Delivery Apps occasional

看看评价。

💡

Rhythm is Key

If your sentence sounds too short, add 'yi' to make it flow better.
⚠️

No Past Tense

Never add 'le' to a reduplicated verb. It breaks the rule!
🎯

Sound Native

Use reduplication when you want to sound like a local, not a textbook.
💬

Face-Saving

Use this to soften requests so you don't sound bossy.

Smart Tips

Use reduplication instead of a direct verb.

看这个。 → 看看这个。

Add 'yi' for a smoother rhythm.

我们走走。 → 我们走一走。

Use it to soften your feedback.

研究这个。 → 研究研究这个。

Use it to ask to try something.

我想试。 → 我想试试。

発音

kàn yī kàn (kàn-yi-kan)

Neutral Tone

In the A-yi-A pattern, the second verb often becomes neutral tone.

Softening

你看看 ↘

Falling intonation makes it sound like a friendly suggestion.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Double the fun, double the verb! If it's short, repeat it; if it's long, repeat the whole song.

視覚的連想

Imagine a person standing at a door. They peek once (look), then peek again (look-look). The repetition makes the action feel light and curious.

Rhyme

One time is a command, two times is a friend's hand.

Story

Xiao Wang wanted to buy a shirt. He didn't just 'buy' it. He 'tried-tried' (试试) it on, 'looked-looked' (看看) in the mirror, and 'thought-thought' (想想) about the price before deciding.

Word Web

看看试试走走聊聊休息休息考虑考虑

チャレンジ

For the next 5 minutes, describe every action you do using the reduplication form (e.g., 'I am drinking-drinking water').

文化メモ

Beijingers love the 'er' sound and reduplication. They often say 'kan-kan-er'.

Southern speakers use reduplication less frequently than Northerners.

Using reduplication in a meeting shows you are approachable and not overly rigid.

Verb reduplication stems from the rhythmic nature of early Chinese, where disyllabic words were preferred for balance.

会話のきっかけ

“

你想去哪儿走一走？

“

这件衣服，你要不要试试？

“

我们要不要聊一聊这个计划？

“

你能不能帮我看看这个文件？

日記のテーマ

Describe your weekend plans using at least three reduplicated verbs.
Write a short dialogue where you ask a friend to try a new hobby.
Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you 'think-think' (想想) about it enough?
Explain to a colleague why a project needs more 'study-study' (研究研究).

よくある間違い

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

我们去公园___吧。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 走走
AA pattern is correct.
Which sentence is correct? 選択問題

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看一看
No 'le' allowed.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

他休息休息了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他休息休息。
Remove 'le'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你看看。
Correct word order.
Translate to Chinese. 翻訳

Let's chat.

Answer starts with: 我们聊...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我们聊聊。
Simple reduplication.
Match the verb to its reduplicated form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看看
AA pattern.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

想 / 试试 / 我 / 。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我想试试。
Subject-Verb-Object.
Reduplicate the verb. Conjugation Drill

研究 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 研究研究
ABAB pattern.

Score: /8

練習問題

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

我们去公园___吧。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 走走
AA pattern is correct.
Which sentence is correct? 選択問題

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看一看
No 'le' allowed.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

他休息休息了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他休息休息。
Remove 'le'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

一 / 看看 / 你 / 。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你看看。
Correct word order.
Translate to Chinese. 翻訳

Let's chat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我们聊聊。
Simple reduplication.
Match the verb to its reduplicated form. Match Pairs

看 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看看
AA pattern.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

想 / 试试 / 我 / 。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我想试试。
Subject-Verb-Object.
Reduplicate the verb. Conjugation Drill

研究 -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 研究研究
ABAB pattern.

Score: /8

よくある質問 (8)

No, never. Reduplication implies a non-completed, tentative state.

It's mostly for rhythm. 'A-yi-A' sounds smoother for some verbs.

No, only volitional verbs. Stative verbs like 'know' or 'like' don't work.

It's generally informal or neutral, but can be used in professional settings to soften requests.

Repeat the whole word, like 'xiuxi xiuxi'.

It's common in Mandarin, but usage varies in other dialects.

Reduplication is more rhythmic and often sounds more 'native'.

No, reduplication is for affirmative or interrogative sentences.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Un poco de + infinitive

Chinese uses morphological repetition; Spanish uses adverbial phrases.

French partial

Un petit peu de

Chinese reduplication is internal to the verb.

German moderate

Mal (e.g., Schau mal)

Chinese uses repetition; German uses a modal particle.

Japanese partial

V-te miru

Chinese reduplication is more about duration/casualness than just trial.

Arabic low

Verb + qaliilan

Chinese changes the verb form itself.

Chinese high

Reduplication

This is the baseline.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
中国語の基本語順：主語 + 動詞 + 目的語

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