Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟
When I was in the mountains last week, I didn’t do any Mandarin at all. No vocabulary reviews, no grammar notes, just fresh air, long walks, and quiet.
And honestly, that’s okay.
Sometimes the best way to make progress is to step back for a moment.
Coming back from a trip, you don’t jump straight into everything at once. You find your rhythm again. Make a coffee, answer a message, take the next small step.
Learning works the same way.
Last week we explored how repeating verbs can make your speech softer, friendlier, and more vivid. This week we’ll build on that, looking at how repetition works with adjectives, measure words, and more, so your sentences feel warmer and more natural.
A warm thank-you to all the new Pearls of Mandarin subscribers who joined during the summer promotion. I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope this week’s worksheets will help you keep your own steady rhythm.
💎 This Week’s Gem: Reduplication (Part 2) 💎
Last week, we discovered how doubling verbs can soften requests (看看), describe brief actions in the past (看了看), and create vivid back-and-forth imagery (走来走去).
Now it’s time to explore how reduplication works with adjectives, measure words, and numerals. These patterns will help you create more colorful descriptions, express “every single one” concepts naturally, and describe sequential actions with precision.
Just like verb reduplication, these patterns are incredibly common in daily Chinese conversation and will add natural flair to your speech. Let’s discover how Chinese uses repetition beyond verbs!
🎨 Vivid Descriptions: Adjective Reduplication (AA)
Chinese adjectives can be doubled for vivid, engaging descriptions. When you repeat a monosyllabic adjective, you transform a plain description into something more lively and natural-sounding.
Think of the difference between 高 (gāo, “tall”) and 高高的 (gāogāo de, “nice and tall”). The doubled version feels warmer and more engaging, like describing someone with genuine appreciation rather than just stating a fact.
For single-syllable adjectives like 大 (dà, “big”), 红 (hóng, “red”), or 小 (xiǎo, “small”), the AA pattern creates emphasis with affection. 大大的 means “really big” with warmth, while 小小的 often carries a sense of “cute and small.” The second adjective typically takes a neutral tone, so 高高 sounds like gāogao.
This pattern adds warmth and informality to descriptions. It’s perfect for everyday conversation and storytelling, but less appropriate for formal writing.
📚 Structure: [Adjective] + [Adjective] + 的 (when modifying nouns)
Example
那个女孩儿高高的个子，大大的眼睛，非常漂亮。
那个 / 女孩儿 / 高高 / 的 / 个子，/ 大大 / 的 / 眼睛，/ 非常 / 漂亮
Nàge nǚháir gāogāo de gèzi, dàdà de yǎnjing, fēicháng piàoliang.
That girl has a nice tall build and big eyes, and is extremely pretty.
that / girl / tall-tall / (modification particle 的) / build / big-big / (modification particle 的) / eyes / extremely / beautiful
Here 高高 and 大大 create a vivid, affectionate description. Instead of just stating facts about height and eye size, the doubling makes the description feel warm and appreciative. She’s nicely tall with lovely big eyes.
💪 Intensified Feelings: AABB Pattern
When you have a two-syllable adjective, Chinese offers the AABB pattern for maximum emphasis. Unlike verbs, which simply repeat the whole word (ABAB like 休息休息), adjectives repeat each syllable individually. By repeating both syllables, you intensify the adjective’s effect and often imply thoroughness or completeness.
Take the adjective 干净 (gānjìng, “clean”). In the AABB pattern, it becomes 干干净净 (gāngānjìngjìng, “spotlessly clean.”) Each syllable gets doubled for maximum emphasis. It’s like the difference between “clean” and “squeaky clean” in English.
You’ll see this pattern everywhere: 高高兴兴 (gāogāoxìngxìng, “joyfully”), 开开心心 (kāikāixīnxīn, “cheerfully happy”), or 仔仔细细 (zǐzǐxìxì, “very carefully”).
📚 Structure: [Adjective Syllable 1] + [Adjective Syllable 1] + [Adjective Syllable 2] + [Adjective Syllable 2]
Example
他们都高高兴兴地回家了。
他们 / 都 / 高高兴兴 / 地 / 回家 / 了
Tāmen dōu gāogāoxìngxìng de huíjiā le.
They all went home very happily.
they / all / happy-happy-joyful-joyful / (adverbial particle 地) / return-home / (completed action marker 了)
The AABB pattern 高高兴兴 emphasizes their joy much more than simple 高兴 would.
✨ Doing Things Properly: The Special Case of 好好
At first glance, 好好 looks like simple AA reduplication of 好 (hǎo, “good”), but it’s actually evolved into something special: a set adverb meaning “well,” “properly,” or “thoroughly.”
You’ll hear 好好 everywhere in daily Chinese. Teachers tell students 好好学习 (hǎohāo xuéxí, “study well”), parents urge children to 好好吃饭 (hǎohāo chīfàn, “eat properly”), and friends promise to 好好玩 (hǎohāo wán, “have a great time”). Unlike 高高的 or 大大的, which create vivid descriptions, 好好 intensifies actions rather than describing things.
In casual conversation, 好好 goes directly before the verb, so no 地 (de) is needed. Note that most speakers say hǎohāo (third tone + first tone) instead of hǎohǎo.
The famous slogan 好好学习，天天向上 (hǎohāo xuéxí, tiāntiān xiàngshàng, “Study well and make progress every day”) has made 好好 culturally associated with diligent effort. You can even combine it with verb reduplication for extra warmth: 好好看看 (hǎohāo kànkan, “take a really good look”).
📚 Structure: 好好
Example 1 (Adverbial)
好好休息！
好好 / 休息 / ！
Hǎohāo xiūxi!
Have a proper rest!
well-well / rest / (exclamation)
Example 2 (Result complement)
他把车洗得好好的。
他 / 把 / 车 / 洗 / 得 / 好好的
Tā bǎ chē xǐ de hǎohāo de.
He washed the car perfectly clean.
he / (disposal marker 把) / car / wash / 得 / good-good-的
Here 好好的 describes the excellent final state. Compare this with 洗得好 (“washed well.”) The reduplicated version emphasizes completeness and perfection.
👥 Every Single One: Measure Word Reduplication (AA)
Chinese creates emphasis for “every” or “each” by doubling measure words. When you repeat a measure word, it means “each and every [X]” with strong emphasis. This is more emphatic than simply using 每 (měi, “each”).
Most frequent examples:
家家 (jiājiā) = “every household”
个个 (gège) = “every single one”
人人 (rénrén) = “everyone”
天天 (tiāntiān) = “every day”
年年 (niánnián) = “every year”
处处 (chùchù) = “everywhere”
This pattern frequently pairs with 都 (dōu, “all”) for extra emphasis. For example, 家家都 (jiājiā dōu) means “every single family all [do something].”
📚 Structure: [Measure Word] + [Measure Word] (+ [Noun]) (+ 都 …)
Example
春节的时候，家家都挂红灯笼。
春节 / 的 / 时候，/ 家家 / 都 / 挂 / 红 / 灯笼
Chūnjié de shíhòu, jiājiā dōu guà hóng dēnglóng.
During Spring Festival, every household hangs red lanterns.
Spring-Festival / 的 / time / household-household / all / hang / red / lantern
Here 家家 emphasizes that every single family participate, no exceptions. While 每家 would also mean “each family,” 家家都 creates a more vivid picture of universal participation. You can imagine an entire neighborhood glowing with red lanterns at every house.
🐾 Step by Step: Numeral + Measure Word Reduplication
When you want to show things happening step by step, in groups, or gradually over time, Chinese doubles numeral + measure word combinations. This creates vivid images of progression and repetition.
The structure is straightforward: take any number + measure word combination and repeat it. 一天 (yī tiān, "one day") becomes 一天一天 (yī tiān yī tiān, "day by day"). 两个 (liǎng gè, "two [things]") becomes 两个两个 (liǎng gè liǎng gè, "two by two").
You might also see 一次又一次 (yī cì yòu yī cì, “time and again”) or 一遍又一遍 (yī biàn yòu yī biàn, “over and over.”) These have the same meaning but with 又 (yòu, “again”) for extra emphasis. You can review all about 又 in CGG #45-46.
📚 Structure: [Number + Measure Word] + [Number + Measure Word] + (的/地) + [Noun/Verb Phrase]
Example
妈妈一遍一遍地告诉我要注意安全。
妈妈 / 一遍一遍 / 地 / 告诉 / 我 / 要 / 注意 / 安全
Māma yī biàn yī biàn de gàosù wǒ yào zhùyì ānquán.
Mom told me again and again to pay attention to safety.
mom / one-time one-time / (adverbial particle 地) / tell / me / should / pay-attention / safety
Curious about your Mandarin mastery?
How many words, characters, or chengyu can you recognize?
📝 Recap
Using AA Pattern with Adjectives: Double single-syllable adjectives like 高高 (gāogao) to create vivid, warm descriptions that sound more engaging and affectionate than plain adjectives. Perfect for everyday conversation and storytelling.
Using AABB Pattern: For two-syllable adjectives, repeat each syllable individually (like 干干净净, gāngānjìngjìng) to create maximum emphasis and convey thoroughness or completeness. Much stronger than the original adjective.
Using 好好 (hǎohāo): This special reduplicated form has evolved beyond simple adjective doubling to become a set adverb meaning “well,” “properly,” or “thoroughly.” It directly precedes verbs to intensify actions rather than describe things.
Using Measure Word Reduplication: Double measure words like 家家 (jiājiā), 个个 (gège), or 人人 (rénrén) to emphasize “every single one” with stronger effect than using 每 (měi). Often pairs with 都 (dōu) for extra emphasis.
Using Numeral + Measure Word Reduplication: Repeat number-measure word combinations like 一天一天 (yī tiān yī tiān) or 两个两个 (liǎng gè liǎng gè) to show things happening step by step, in groups, or gradually over time. Creates vivid images of progression and repetition.
⛏️ Practice Makes Perfect
Now it’s time to practice these reduplication patterns! These structures help your Mandarin sound more natural and expressive, just like native speakers use them. Don’t worry about memorizing rules. Instead, focus on getting a feel for how each pattern works. With practice, you’ll start to understand when and why Chinese speakers use these forms. Translate:
🌱 Easy
Everyone likes cats.
Please listen carefully to what the teacher is saying.
The children eat chocolate cookies one by one.
Mom, I clearly remember you said I could watch TV.
🌳 Advanced
The Japanese judo team wins gold medals at every Olympics.
The panda at the zoo sleeps quietly all day, completely ignoring the excited tourists.
This philosopher’s thoughts are profound, influencing generation after generation.
The Silk Road merchants’ camels looked tired and dusty after crossing the desert.
🌟 Practice More with Pearls of Mandarin 🌟
When I was learning Mandarin, practicing regularly was the key that unlocked fluency for me. I’d love for you to have that same experience. That’s why I created the Pearls of Mandarin Worksheets.
Here’s how each resource in the subscription supports your journey:
PM Translation (Saturdays) – Each Saturday, you’ll get two sets of translation exercises from English to Mandarin:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Great for mastering foundational grammar.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Perfect if you’re looking for deeper fluency and subtle nuances.
Each worksheet comes with detailed corrections and clear grammar explanations, helping you craft natural and authentic sentences. With practice, you’ll confidently translate grammar knowledge into real-life Mandarin skills.
PM Comprehension (Sundays) – Each Sunday, you’ll receive two comprehension texts with audio at both natural and slow speeds, full pinyin, and translations:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Ideal for developing solid listening and comprehension skills.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Great if you’re ready to challenge yourself further.
These texts include vocabulary lists, HSK-style comprehension questions, and grammar notes, designed to boost your listening abilities and vocabulary in context.
Complete Access to the CGG Archive – With a paid subscription, you’ll unlock full access to the entire CGG library, including over 80 grammar lessons. Free subscribers only see the latest lesson, but this archive lets you revisit essential grammar anytime. Plus, you’ll get a handy PDF summary to quickly find exactly what you need.
If you think this could help in your journey as it helped in mine, subscribe to receive these resources in your inbox every weekend.
I’m here to share what I’ve learned and to support you as you make your way towards mastery.
That’s a wrap for today!
This weekend, look out for your PM Translation and PM Comprehension worksheets. They’ll give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned and keep improving your Mandarin skills.
Happy learning,
Pierre 🐼