What is reduplicated word?

In Chinese, reduplicated word is a morphological process that part of the word or the whole word is reduplicated. It serves different functions in different forms.

There are two main types of reduplication - full reduplication, like [A[AB]B], [AB][AB] and partial reduplication, like [AB]B], [A[AB].

StructureFunctionInput Cat.Output Cat.BaseReduplication
[A[AB]B]IncreasingAdj, V, NAdj, V, N

gāo xìng

高兴

happy

gāo gāo xìng xìng

高高兴兴

very happy

[AB][AB]DiminishingVV

jiè shào

介绍

introduce

jiè shào jiè shào

介绍介绍

introduce(a little)

[AB]B]IncreasingAdj, V, NAdj, V, N

tián mì

甜蜜

sweet

tián mì mì

甜蜜蜜

very sweet

[A[AB]IncreasingAdjAdj

pèn xiānɡ

喷香

aromatic

pèn pèn xiānɡ

喷喷香

richly aromatic

DiminishingVV

chàng gē

唱歌

sing a song

chàng chàng gē

唱唱歌

sing (a little)

Full reduplication

[A [AB] B]
In Chinese, some adjectives, verbs and nouns can be reduplicated in [A[AB]B] form to express a stronger meaning.
Examples:
men
jiā
de
xiǎo
hái
zhǎng
de
bái
bái
jing
jìng
de

Kids of this family all look fair and clear.

xún
xún
zhǐ
wèi

I've searched the whole world for someone like you.

jiē
shàng
nán
nán
dōu
zhuó
zhěng

All the people in the streets, men and women alike, were impeccably attired.

RW AABB
Total 668 words
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[AB][AB]
In Chinese, some verbs and adjectives can be reduplicated in [AB][AB] form to express a lighter meaning.
In different contexts, the words express different meanings.
  • [1]To express "a little bit" or "briefly". It is oral language, and carries a casual tone.
    Examples:
    míng
    tiān
    rén
    jiù
    lái
    le
    zài
    fáng
    jiān
    sǎo
    sǎo

    Our guests will come tomorrow. You may clean the room up a bit.

  • [2]To express the seriousness of the problem.
    Examples:
    jué
    de
    yīng
    gāi
    yuàn
    jiǎn
    chá
    jiǎn
    chá

    I think you should go to hospital to have a health check.

  • [3]To make others or oneself feel as if one experiences something in person, when the verbs or adjectives is related to psychological feelings.
    Examples:
    kuài
    zhè
    ge
    hǎo
    xiāo
    gào
    ,
    ràng
    gāo
    xìng
    gāo
    xìng

    Tell Grandpa the good news to let him experience the same joy.

RW ABAB
Total 100 words
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Partial reduplication

[AB] B]
In Chinese, some adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns can be reduplicated in [AB]B] form to express a stronger meaning.
Examples:
zhè
shù
de
zi
yóu
liàng
liàng
de

The leaves of the tree are shimmering.

duān
duān
āi
le
píng

I was criticized without just cause.

lǎo
tài
tài
huàng
yōu
yōu
zǒu
lái

The old woman was tottering along.

guāng
bǎn
bǎn
de
féi
xià

He rubbed his bare and fat chin.

RW ABB
Total 146 words
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[A [AB]
In Chinese, some verbs can be reduplicated in [A[AB] form to express a lighter meaning.
In different contexts, the words express different meanings.
  • [1]To express a quick action.
    Examples:
    pāi
    pāi
    shǒu
    rán
    hòu
    zhàn
    lái

    Clap your hands and stand up.

  • [2]To defuse the tension if the tone become mild.
    Examples:
    zhǐ
    shì
    shuō
    shuō
    hěn
    huà
    jiě
    jiě
    hèn
    huì
    zhēn
    de

    I just talked tough to vent my hatred and I won't fight against him really.

  • [3]To indicate it is a regular action, the tone will not change in degree and is often used in informal occasions.
    Examples:
    xiū
    jiǎ
    de
    shí
    hòu
    huān
    dàn
    tán
    qín
    chàng
    chàng

    She likes to play the piano and sing during holidays.

If an adjective is reduplicated in [A[AB] form, its tone will be stronger.
Examples:
fàn
cài
pēn
pēn
xiāng

The dishes smell delicious.

RW AAB
Total 148 words
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Onomatopoeic word

There are four reduplicated forms of onomatopoeic words, each of which has different reduplication conditions. No matter what form it is, its reduplication makes the sound long and dynamic.
Examples:
dié
zi
wǎn
pèng
dīng
dīng
dāng
dāng
de

The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.

zhǐ
māo
xíng
zǒu
shí
zi
shàng
de
líng
dang
chū
dīng
dāng
dīng
dāng
de

The bell on the cat’s collar jingled as he walked.

dīng
dīng
dāng
dīng
dīng
dāng
líng
ér
xiǎng
dīng
dāng

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.