（要）V就V个…
if you do it, do it to the full
Structure
（要） 动词 就 动词 个 痛快／够／清楚
What it means
If you do it, do it to the full: the verb comes twice, and 个 turns what follows into a goal reached in full.
How it is built
(要) + verb + 就 + verb + 个 + result (痛快, 够, 清楚): 要吃就吃个痛快 (If we’re going to eat, let’s eat our fill). Also 睡个好觉.
When to use it
Hearty and spoken, urging yourself or friends to go all the way. Compare V就V，别…, which accepts the action and stops the fuss around it.
Watch out
个 cannot be dropped: ✗吃就吃痛快 ✓吃就吃个痛快. What follows is a full result, not a degree: ✗玩就玩个很好.
Examples
要吃就吃个痛快，减肥的事明天再说。
If we are going to eat, let’s eat our fill; the diet can wait till tomorrow.
难得放一次长假，咱们玩就玩个够！
A long holiday is rare, so if we are going to play, let’s play to our heart’s content!
要问就问个清楚，别回家再瞎猜。
If you are going to ask, ask until it is clear; do not go home and guess.
Learn this in Lesson 218 · HSK 9+: 文人写吃 (Writers at the table)
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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