Speak Mandarin like a Chinese by repeating certain words (Part 2)

We often use 白白胖胖 (báibái pàng pàng fair-skinned and fat) to describe a chubby baby with cheeks that invite an affectionate pinch. And, 高高兴兴 (gāo gāoxìng xìng glad, gladly) is usually the first phrase that comes to mind when we want to describe being in a good mood.

上图显示著一些大大小小的纽扣.
Shàng tú xiǎnshì zhe yīxiē dà dà xiǎo xiǎo de niǔkòu.
The above picture shows a handful of buttons of various sizes.

Theoretically, you could apply this AABB pattern for any Chinese adjective or adverb. However, many adjectives and adverbs are customarily not repeated in this way. For example, I’ve never heard “美美丽丽” for 美丽 (měilì beautiful), or “悲悲伤伤” for “悲伤 (bēishāng sorrowful)”, or “小小气气” for 小气 (xiǎoqì stingy).

Following are a number of adjectives and adverbs that are commonly duplicated, usually for emphasis.

快快乐乐 (kuài kuàilè lè) happy, happily
和和气气 (hé hé qì qì) polite and amiable, in good spirits
轻轻松松 (qīng qīng sōng sōng) relaxed, easily, without effort
痛痛快快 (tòng tòng kuài kuài) open and direct, without hesitation, with alacrity
大大方方 (dà dà fāng fāng) generous, gracefully
方方正正 (fāng fāngz hèng zhèng) square or upright
高高低低 (gāo gāo dī dī) uneven in height
普普通通 (pǔ pǔ tōng tōng) ordinary
稀稀疏疏 (xī xi shū shū) sparse
朦朦胧胧 (méng méng lóng lóng) hazy
疯疯颠颠 (fēng fēng diān diān) crazy, deranged, erratic
昏昏沉沉 (hūn hūn chénchén) groggy, dizzy and sleepy
慌慌张张 (huāng huāng zhāng zhāng) in a hurry-scurry
恍恍惚惚 (huǎng huǎng hū hū) vaguely, confused, as if in a trance
窝窝囊囊 (wō wo nāng nāng) cowardly
舒舒服服 (shū shū fú fú) comfortable, comfortably
服服贴贴 (fú fú tiē tiē) docile and obedient
安安稳稳 (ān ān wěn wěn) safe and sound
邋邋遢遢 (lā lā tà tà) sloppy, slovenly
踏踏实实 (tà tà shí shí) down-to-earth
地地道道 (dì dì dào dao) authentic, to the core
仔仔细细 (zǐ zǐ xì xì) in great detail, thoroughly, (checking) carefully
清清楚楚 (qīng qīng chǔ chǔ) very clearly
浩浩荡荡 (hào hào dàng dàng) in a grandiose way, said of an army or a large crowd of people

Hungry for more? Here are a bunch of Chinese idioms containing duplicated characters.

气势汹汹 (qìshìxiōngxiōng) aggressive, overbearing
喜气洋洋 (xǐqìyángyáng) full of joy
洋洋大观 (yángyángdàguān) spectcular, extensive
比比皆是 (bǐ bì jiē shì) can be found everywhere, great in number
落落大方 (luòluò dàfāng) graceful, at one’s ease
多多益善 (duōduōyìshàn) the more the merrier
格格不入 (gégébùrù) not fitting in or out of place (said of people)
苦苦哀求 (kǔ kǔ āiqiú) to entreat piteously
赫赫有名 (hèhè yǒumíng) very famous, illustrious
楚楚动人 (chǔchǔ dòngrén) lovely and enchanting (said of delicate women)
卓卓有余 (zhuō zhuó yǒuyú) more than sufficient, having enough to spare
姗姗来迟 (shān shān lái chí) jokingly or sarcastically said of people who arrive late
沾沾自喜 (zhānzhānzìxǐ) to feel smug
津津有味 (jīnjīnyǒuwèi) with keen interest or with relish (as in reading a book)
津津乐道 (jīnjīn lè dào) to talk abut something with enthusiasm.
谦谦君子 (qiānqiānjūnzǐ) a modest gentleman
代代相传 (dài dài xiāngchuán) passed down from generation to generation
头头是道 (tóutóushìdào) clear and logical, well argued, making good sene
口口声声 (kǒukǒushēngshēng) saying repeatedly
家家户户 (jiājiāhùhù) each and every family

四月通常有很多雨天.
Sì yuè tōngcháng yǒu hěnduō yǔtiān.
The month of April generally offers many rainy days.

你听到外面下雨的声音了吗?
Nǐ tīng dào wàimiàn xià yǔ de shēngyīnle ma?
Do you hear the sound of rain outside?

这些自然声音已被证明有助于放松心情.
Zhèxiē zìrán shēngyīn yǐ bèi zhèngmíng yǒu zhù yú fàngsōng xīnqíng.
Such nature sounds have been shown to help relax the mind.

放松下来; 让雨声帮助你集中精力学习这些成语.
Fàngsōng xiàlái; ràng yǔ shēng bāngzhù nǐ jízhōng jīnglì xuéxí zhèxiē chéngyǔ.
Relax; let the sound of rain help you focus on studing these idioms.

Learn Chinese word for going smoothly

The 顺 (shùn) character consists of a 川 (chuān river) and a 页 (yè a leaf or a page). Think of a leaf floating down a river, moving along with the flow. This will help you remember that 顺 (shùn) means to move smoothly along in the same direction.

顺 (shùn) implies not going against the grain. Therefore, it also means being smooth or agreeable.

顺风 (shùnfēng) is to have a tail wind.

帆 (fān) is the sail of a boat. To wish someone smooth sailing, you could say: 一帆风顺. (Yīfānfēngshùn.) To wish someone a safe trip, you could say: 一路顺风. (Yīlùshùnfēng. Bon voyage)

顺路 (shùnlù) means on the way.

我顺路买了一条面包.
Wǒ shùnlù mǎi le yī tiáo miànbāo.
On the way I bought a loaf of bread.

顺便 (shùnbiàn) means by the way, in passing or at one’s convenience.

他进城时, 顺便来看我.
Tā jìnchéng shí, shùnbiàn lái kàn wǒ.
When he comes to town, he drops by to see me.
(This is an example of a complex sentence.)

顺利 (shùnlì) means doing something smoothly or successfully, or something is going smoothly.

他顺利地通过了考试.
Tā shùnlì de tōngguò le kǎoshì.
He passed the exam without any problem.

万事顺利!
Wànshì shùnlì!
May everything go well for you! All the best!

顺序 (shùnxù) is a noun that means order or sequence. 照顺序做 (zhào shùnxù zuò) means to do things in the proper order. In the game of poker, 顺 (shùn) refers to a straight.

To be agreeable to a person, you often must follow their wishes or obey their commands. 顺从 (shùncóng) means to be obedient to or to yield to someone. 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) is said of a person showing filial piety and obedience. This is a virtue that is highly valued by the Chinese.

温顺 (wēnshùn) is an adjective that you could use to describe a person who is gentle and docile. 百依百顺 (bǎiyībǎishùn) means to be totally docile and obedient. 逆来顺受 (nìláishùnshòu) is a phrase describing a resigned person meekly submitting to maltreatment or misfortune without complaint.

顺其自然 (shùnqízìrán) is to follow nature’s course.

这件事顺其自然就好了.
Zhè jiàn shì shùnqízìrán jiù hǎo le.
Just let nature take its course with respect to this matter.

Now, from your own perspective, things that look agreeable or pleasing are said to be 顺眼 (shùnyǎn), and words that you like to hear are said to be 顺耳 (shùněr).

顺口 (shùnkǒu) means saying things offhandedly. It also an adjective used to describe words or text that can be spoken or read smoothly and easily.

顺手 (shùnshǒu) means easy to do without a hitch. This word is also used to describe something that is convenient and easy to use.

顺心 (shùnxīn), or 顺意 (shùnyì), means having things go satisfactorily according to one’s wish.

Have you ever wondered why some people seem happier and more optimistic than you are? Barring actual calamities or serious health or financial problems, it’s often a matter of the frame of mind in which you decide to find yourself. In other words, don’t fret over a sock that’s missing from the wash. It will most likely turn up the next time you do your laundry. Looking at things from the brighter side may take some practicing. For starters, why not sing Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” first thing in the morning? You should be able to sing the following lines to the music for the refrain that begins with “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”.

啊! 多么美丽的早晨!
Ā duōme měilì dì zǎochén!

啊! 多么美的一天!
Ā duōme měi dì yītiān!!

我心中充满了欢欣,
Wǒ xīn zhòng chōngmǎn liǎo huān xīn,

事事都顺意如愿.
Shìshì dōu shùnyì rúyuàn.

When singing a song, it’s customary to pronounce 的 as “dì” and 了 “liǎo” because they are easier to enunciate this way and therefore sound better in a song. In fact, many Chinese people use this alternative pronunciation in their daily speech.