AA · AABB
vivid description: nice and …
Structure
AA + （ 的／地 ） · AABB + （ 的／地 ）
What it means
Doubling an adjective paints a vivid picture, like “nice and tall” or “nice and clean”: 高高的, 干干净净的.
How it is built
One syllable → AA: 她的眼睛大大的 (She has big, round eyes). Two syllables → AABB: 高兴 → 高高兴兴. Add 的 to describe, 地 before a verb: 轻轻地说.
When to use it
Use it to describe how someone or something looks or feels, in speech and stories: 孩子的脸红红的 (The child has rosy cheeks). It sounds livelier than 很 + adjective.
Watch out
The doubling already means “very”, so never add 很: ✗ 很高高的 ✓ 高高的. Two-syllable words are AABB: ✗ 干净干净 ✓ 干干净净.
Examples
她的眼睛大大的。
She has big, round eyes.
孩子的脸红红的。
The child has rosy cheeks.
冬天喝一杯热热的茶，真舒服！
A nice hot cup of tea in winter is so good!
孩子在睡觉，你轻轻地说。
The child’s asleep. Speak softly.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 12: 在公园里找人 (Finding someone in the park)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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