HSK 6
A—+量词，B—+量词
A — + liàng cí ， B — + liàng cí
Structure A 一+measure word，B 一+measure word expressing alternation, taking turns
Explanation
This is the fixed construction (固定格式 gùdìng géshì: a set sentence pattern) 'A 一+measure word, B 一+measure word', used to describe two things or two actions occurring alternately, in turns, in rapid succession.
A + 一 (yī: one) + measure word (a word indicating a counting unit), B + 一 + measure word. A and B are usually a symmetrical pair: 你 (nǐ: you) / 我 (wǒ: I), or color words 青 (qīng: dark blue-green) / 紫 (zǐ: purple).
when you want to depict a scene of many things following one after another in alternation — one person says a line, the other says a line (你一句我一句), a bruise here and a bruise there (青一块紫一块); it carries a vivid flavor and is common in colloquial speech and storytelling.
using a mismatched pair of measure words (both sides must use the same type of measure word, for example both 一块 or both 一句); and forgetting that A and B are usually a pair with a contrasting/alternating relationship, not two unrelated words joined together.
Examples
He fell very hard; his body is bruised all over, black here and purple there.
Everyone chimed in, one after another, which actually left him without any ideas of his own.
The two of them were talking when suddenly they started trading blows, one from you and one from me.
Practice
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The grammar point “A—+量词，B—+量词” (Structure A 一+measure word，B 一+measure word expressing alternation, taking turns) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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