HSK 2
形容词重叠：AA、AABB
xíng róng cí chóng dié ： A A 、 A A B B
Adjective reduplication (AA, AABB)
Explanation
In Chinese, adjectives can be reduplicated to intensify the degree and make the sentence more vivid and emotionally rich.
A one-syllable adjective reduplicates into AA, e.g. 高 gāo → 高高 gāogāo (tall); a two-syllable adjective (AB) reduplicates into AABB, e.g. 干净 gānjìng → 干干净净 gāngānjìngjìng (spotlessly clean).
When you want a vivid description, to praise, or to express feelings toward something. As an attributive (a modifier of a noun) or a predicate (the part stating an action or quality of the subject), add 的 de: 大大的眼睛 (big eyes); as an adverbial (the element indicating time, place, or manner), add 地 de before the verb: 高高兴兴地回家 (go home happily).
A reduplicated adjective already carries emphasis, so do NOT use a degree adverb such as 很 hěn (very) or 非常 fēicháng (extremely) before it.
Vietnamese learners often reduplicate two-syllable adjectives incorrectly (writing ABAB instead of AABB), and often confuse 的 de with 地 de (use 的 before a noun, 地 before a verb).
Examples
That girl has a tall figure and big round eyes; she is very beautiful.
This room is spotlessly clean.
They all went home happily.
Practice
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Learn “形容词重叠：AA、AABB” effectively
The grammar point “形容词重叠：AA、AABB” (Adjective reduplication (AA, AABB)) is one of the key structures at HSK 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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