Doubled Adjectives: 大大, 慢慢, 高高兴兴
Double an adjective as AA (大大, 慢慢) or AABB (高高兴兴) to paint a vivid picture, and attach it with 的, 地 or 得.
Pattern
AA (大大, 慢慢); AABB (高高兴兴, 干干净净) + 的/地, or after 得
A doubled adjective already sounds strong and lively, so it never takes 很.
孩子们高高兴兴地去上学了。
When to use Doubled Adjectives: 大大, 慢慢, 高高兴兴
Repeat an adjective to make a description vivid and full of feeling. One-syllable adjectives double as AA: 大 becomes 大大, 慢 becomes 慢慢. Two-syllable adjectives double each syllable, AABB: 高兴 becomes 高高兴兴, 干净 becomes 干干净净. A doubled adjective already carries its own strength, so it never takes 很, 非常 or 不.
她有一双大大的眼睛。
She has lovely big eyes.
慢慢走，路上小心。
Don’t rush, and be careful on the way.
他的房间干干净净的。
His room is nice and clean.
我想喝一杯热热的茶。
I’d like a nice hot cup of tea.
Common traps
- Don’t add 很 to a doubled adjective: say 她的眼睛大大的 or 她的眼睛很大, not 她的眼睛很大大的.
- For “happily”, say 高高兴兴地, not 高兴高兴地: two-syllable adjectives double as AABB.
- As the predicate, close the doubled adjective with 的: say 他的脸红红的, not 他的脸红红.
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