Reduplication of measure words
Measure words can be reduplicated to express the meaning: “every”, “one by one”, or “many”.
When it means “every”
When the measure word is repeated, it has the same meaning as the word 每 
.
It may be preceded by the word 一 and followed by 都 .
In a sentence, the reduplicated measure word can be:
1) the subject.
.
It may be preceded by the word 一 and followed by 都 .
In a sentence, the reduplicated measure word can be:
1) the subject.Examples
他们一个个都很开朗
They are all very friendly
tāmen yì ge ge dōu hěn kāilǎng
这里的公司家家都用苹果电脑
Every company here uses Apple computers
zhèlǐ de gōngsī jiā jiā dōu yòng píngguǒ diànnǎo
2) the attributive. In this case we should put the particle 的 between the attributive and the noun. And put 都 after the noun.
between the attributive and the noun. And put 都 after the noun.Examples
这些衣服件件的价格都很贵
The price of each item of clothing is very expensive
zhèxiē yīfu jiàn jiàn de jiàgé dōu hěn guì
家家的门上都挂着灯笼
Lanterns are hung on the doors of every house
jiā jiā de mén shàng dōu guà zhe dēnglóng
一本本书都很贵
Every book is very expensive
yì běn běn shū dōu hěn guì
3) the adverbial. In this case, the reduplicated measure word can come before or after the subject.
Examples
马克次次都迟到
Mark is late every time
mǎkè cì cì dōu chídào
次次马克都迟到
Mark is late every time
cì cì mǎkè dōu chídào
When it means “gradually”, “one by one”
To express the meaning “one by one”, the measure words are reduplicated with the word 一 before the verb.
before the verb. Pay attention
We also should put the particle 地 between the measure words and the verb.
between the measure words and the verb.Scheme
一
measure word
一
measure word
地
verb
Examples
他的汉语水平在一步一步地提高
His Chinese skills are improving gradually
tā de hànyǔ shuǐpíng zài yí bù yí bù de tígāo
这些书我一本一本地看看
I read these books one at a time
zhèxiē shū wǒ yì běn yì běn de kàn
When it means “many”
To express the meaning “many” we should reduplicate the measure words with the word 一 , and put the word 又 between them.
In this meaning, the reduplicated measure words can be:
1) the attributive. In this case, we should put the particle 的 between an attributive and the noun.
, and put the word 又 between them.
In this meaning, the reduplicated measure words can be:
1) the attributive. In this case, we should put the particle 的 between an attributive and the noun.Scheme
一
measure word
又
一
measure word
的
noun
Examples
这一只又一只的盘子，什么时候能刷完哪！
There are so many plates, when will it be finished?
zhè yì zhǐ yòu yì zhǐ de pánzi, shénme shíhòu néng shuā wán nǎ
2) the adverbial. Here we should put it before the verb with the particle 地 between them.
Scheme
一
measure word
又
一
measure word
地
verb
Examples
她一遍又一遍地练习
She practiced over and over again
tā yí biàn yòu yí biàn de liànxí
In this sentence, we can omit 又 and reduplicate the measure word with the word 一
Examples
她一遍一遍地练习
She practiced over and over again
tā yí biàn yí biàn de liànxí
她一遍遍地练习
She practiced over and over again
tā yí biàn biàn de liànxí
Pay attention
Counting words denoting units of measurement cannot be reduplicated. For example, words such as 克 , 米 , or 秒 .
, 米 , or 秒 .Learn more