Reduplication of adjectives
Reduplication can enhance the descriptive feeling of an adjective.
Reduplication of monosyllabic adjectives
Monosyllabic adjectives are adjectives consisting of one character.
They are reduplicated according to the following pattern: AA. You just have to repeat an adjective twice.
Scheme
A
A
In the reduplication of adjectives, the tone of the second adjective usually changes to the first tone:
长 
— 长长
The exceptions are words that don't change their tone:
紧紧
白白
红红
— 长长
The exceptions are words that don't change their tone:
紧紧
白白
红红 A reduplicated adjective can be used as an attribute. In this case, the particle 的 is placed between a noun and reduplicated adjective.
is placed between a noun and reduplicated adjective.Examples
我住在那套小小的公寓里
I live in that tiny flat
wǒ zhù zài nà tào xiǎoxiǎo de gōngyù lǐ
你应该很冷吧，看一下你的红红的鼻子！
You must be very cold, look at your red nose!
nǐ yīnggāi hěn lěng ba, kàn yíxià nǐ de hónghóng de bízi
A reduplicated adjective can also be used as an adverbial modifier of manner. In this case it is placed before a verb.
The particle 地 can be placed between a reduplicated monosyllabic adjective and a verb.
can be placed between a reduplicated monosyllabic adjective and a verb.Examples
好好听老师的话
Listen to the teacher carefully
hǎohāo tīng lǎoshī de huà
你们快快地去追赶！
Catch up quickly!
nǐmen kuàikuài de qù zhuīgǎn hūqí
An adjective can also be reduplicated by adding 乎其 . In this case, the adjective is stated in the superlative degree. For example: the most wonderful, the most difficult.
However, adjectives are rarely reduplicated in this way. There are few adjectives which can be used with 乎其.
. In this case, the adjective is stated in the superlative degree. For example: the most wonderful, the most difficult.
However, adjectives are rarely reduplicated in this way. There are few adjectives which can be used with 乎其.Scheme
A
乎其
A
Examples
外科医生是难乎其难的工作
Surgeons have a very difficult job
wàikē yīshēng shì nán hūqí nán de gōngzuò
传染的可能性微乎其微
The risk of contamination is negligible
chuánrǎn de kěnéngxìng wéi hūqí wēi
Adjectives can be reduplicated according to another pattern, but it is rarely used:
Scheme
A
b
A
c
There are some groups of words that can be used in place of "b" and "c":
1) antonyms. For example, 里 and 外 , 起 and 坐 .
and 外 , 起 and 坐 .Examples
哥哥每天忙里忙外
Every day my brother is very busy
gēge měitiān máng lǐ máng wài
2) nouns that are used separately in the pattern.
For example: 头脑 , 模样 .
, 模样 .Examples
那个人有点愣头愣脑地
The man was a little dazed
nà ge rén yǒudiǎn lèngtóulèngnǎo de
3) verbs that are used separately in the pattern.
For example: 惶恐 , 分解 .
, 分解 .Examples
新型冠状病毒感染让人诚惶诚恐
The new coronavirus infection makes people panic
xīnxíng guānzhuàng bìngdú gǎnrǎn ràng rén chénghuángchéngkǒng
Reduplication of two-syllable adjectives
Two-syllable adjectives are adjectives consisting of two characters.
They are usually reduplicated according to the following pattern: AABB.
Both parts of the word are reduplicated in turn. For example:
高兴 — 高高兴兴 .
— 高高兴兴 .Examples
我的房间是干干净净的
My room is clean and tidy
wǒ de fángjiān shì gāngānjìngjìng de
请认认真真地查自己的错误
Please check your mistakes very carefully
qǐng rènrènzhēnzhēn de chá zìjǐ de cuòwù
Pay attention
If a two-syllable adjective is used as an attribute, the particle 地 is placed between the adjective and the verb.
Some adjectives can be reduplicated according to the following pattern:
Scheme
А
里
AВ
The most common words that can be reduplicated in this way are the following:
糊涂
古怪
土气
流气
古怪
土气
流气 Examples
他流里流气地问我的手机号码
He boldly asked for my mobile phone number
tā liú lǐ liúqì de wèn wǒ de shǒujī hàomǎ
这条裤子让你看起来土里土气的样子
These trousers make you look an old person
zhè tiáo kùzi ràng nǐ kàn qǐlái tǔ lǐ tǔqì de yàngzi
Pay attention
Reduplicated adjectives cannot be preceded by words of negation or by adverbs of degree, such as 很 and 特别 .
and 特别 .