a verbal pattern indicating numerous, messy, or disordered states
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesidiomatic pattern
numerous, messy, or disordered
informalAn infix pattern inserted between two identical or related nouns, verbs, or verb morphemes to emphasize a state of being many, chaotic, or disorderly. It is a productive and common rhetorical device in Chinese, adding vividness and colloquial flavor.
Wū屋
lǐ里
bèi被
hái孩
zi子
men们
nòng弄
dé得
qī七
líng零
bā八
luò落
de的
。
The room was left in a chaotic mess by the kids.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
qī七
shàng上
bā八
xià下
de的
，
ràng让
rén人
tīng听
bù不
míng明
bai白
。
He always speaks in a disjointed and confusing way, making it hard to understand him.
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Zhè这
fèn份
bào报
gào告
xiě写
dé得
qī七
pīn拼
bā八
còu凑
，
quē缺
fá乏
luó逻
jí辑
。
This report is written in a patchwork fashion, lacking logic.
Lǎo老
rén人
nián年
jì纪
dà大
le了
，
zǒu走
qǐ起
lù路
lái来
qī七
diān颠
bā八
dǎo倒
de的
。
The old man is getting on in years and walks unsteadily, stumbling about.
Mǎi买
dōng东
xī西
yù遇
dào到
qī七
zhé折
bā八
kòu扣
，
zhēn真
de的
hěn很
huá划
suàn算
。
Getting a huge discount when shopping is a real bargain.