X了又Y，Y了又X
doing X and Y over and over; back and forth
Structure
X 了又 Y ， Y 了又 X
What it means
Doing X and Y over and over: two paired or opposite actions going round in a loop, painting hesitation, restlessness or an endless cycle.
How it is built
X + 了又 + Y，Y + 了又 + X: 那封信他写了又撕，撕了又写 (He wrote the letter and tore it up, tore it up and wrote it again). Pairs: 穿/脱, 来/去, 拿起/放下.
When to use it
Spoken and narrative; not for formal reports. With one verb, X了又X just means again and again: 看了又看, 叮嘱了又叮嘱.
Watch out
Keep the mirror order: the second half starts with Y and ends with X. ✗穿了又脱，穿了又脱 ✓穿了又脱，脱了又穿.
Examples
她把那件衣服穿了又脱，脱了又穿，还是拿不定主意。
She put the dress on and took it off, took it off and put it on, and still could not make up her mind.
那封信他写了又撕，撕了又写，一直写到天亮。
He wrote the letter and tore it up, tore it up and wrote it again, until dawn.
燕子去了又来，来了又去，日子却只往前走。
The swallows go and come back, come back and go again; our days only ever move on.
Learn this in Lesson 222 · HSK 9+: 朱自清的散文 (Zhu Ziqing and the modern essay)
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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