（要）V就V个＋补语
if you’re going to do it, do it all the way
Structure
要 动词 就 动词 个 补语
What it means
If you are going to do something, do it to the full. 要 sets the condition, 就 the result, and 个 turns the complement into a goal pushed to the limit, so it sounds determined.
How it is built
要 + verb + 就 + the same verb + 个 + complement (痛快, 够, 清楚, 明白), with no comma inside: 难得放假，要玩就玩个痛快！ (Holidays are rare: if we play, let's play properly!)
When to use it
Spoken and lively, for urging yourself or others to go all out. Set phrases: 要喝就喝个够, 问个明白, 睡个好觉. Plain 玩得很痛快 only describes; this pattern states a resolve.
Watch out
Repeat the same verb and put no 得 after the second one. ✗ 要说就讲个痛快 ✓ 要说就说个痛快. ✗ 玩得个痛快 ✓ 玩个痛快.
Examples
他向来是要说就说个痛快，诗里也常常流露出对新法的不满。
He had always been one to speak his mind and say it all, and his poems often let slip his dislike of the New Policies.
难得放假，要玩就玩个痛快！
Holidays don’t come often: if we’re going to have fun, let’s have fun properly!
这件事要查就查个清楚，不能不了了之。
If we’re going to look into this, we look into it thoroughly; we can’t just let it fizzle out.
Learn this in Lesson 92 · HSK 6–7: 苏东坡的宋朝 (Su Dongpo’s Song dynasty)
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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