HSK 5
A来A去
A lái A qù
Verb reduplication structure with '来去': A来A去
Explanation
This is the four-character structure 'A来A去' (A lái A qù), which repeats a verb with 来 (lái, come/again) and 去 (qù, go) inserted in between, to emphasize an action repeated many times.
verb A + 来 lái + verb A + 去 qù. For example 想 (xiǎng, think) → 想来想去 (think it over and over).
Used when an action keeps repeating, often carrying a nuance of hesitation, deliberation, dragging on without a result (想来想去 thinking endlessly, 讨论来讨论去 discussing endlessly); or to describe continuous back-and-forth movement (飞来飞去 flying back and forth).
It can only be used with monosyllabic verbs or disyllabic verbs repeated in full (讨论来讨论去); not every verb can be inserted this way. Vietnamese learners often forget that this structure usually implies 'doing something endlessly without finishing', so do not use it for an action with a definite result.
Examples
Thinking it over and over, Xiao Wang is still the most suitable.
Everyone discussed it back and forth, and in the end it still wasn't resolved.
She is a tour guide and often flies back and forth all over the world.
Practice
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Learn “A来A去” effectively
The grammar point “A来A去” (Verb reduplication structure with '来去': A来A去) is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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