X来X去，都是/就是... for “Over and Over, Still the Same”

Structure

verb + 来 + verb + 去，都是 / 就是 + (the same) result

X来X去 means doing X over and over. The second part with 都是 or 就是 says that, after all that effort, the result is always the same or comes down to one thing.

他说来说去，就是那几句话。

When to use X来X去，都是/就是... for “Over and Over, Still the Same”

Put the same verb before 来 and before 去: 说来说去, 想来想去, 看来看去. This shows an action repeated many times, often with some impatience. The next clause, with 都是 or 就是, gives the result: no matter how many times you did it, the result was the same (都是差不多的衣服), or everything comes down to one point (就是那几句话).

我想来想去，就是想不出好办法。

I thought it over and over, but I just couldn’t come up with a good idea.

这几家店我看来看去，都是差不多的衣服。

I looked around these shops again and again, and it was all pretty much the same clothes.

晚上的电视节目我换来换去，都是广告。

I kept switching channels in the evening, and it was all ads.

妈妈说来说去，就是希望你早点儿回家。

All Mom’s talk comes down to one thing: she wants you home early.

Pièges courants

Use the same verb in both places, with 来 first and 去 second: 想来想去.
Repeat a two-syllable verb in full: 商量来商量去, not 商量来量去.
都是 / 就是 introduce the unchanging result; if you mean a final choice, 最后 or 还是 sounds more natural.

Exercice ciblé

Entraînez-vous sur ce schéma exact avant de continuer.

我们商量商量去，最后决定周末去爬山

We talked it over again and again and finally decided to go hiking at the weekend

lái

Sens

used in X来X去 for “over and over”

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When to use X来X去，都是/就是... for “Over and Over, Still the Same”

Pièges courants

Exercice ciblé

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