慢慢
màn màn
Reduplication of adjectives
Doubling an adjective makes it vivid and a little softer — and turns it into an adverb.
Adj. + Adj. (+ 地 + Verb)
How it works
你应该慢慢地走 — you should walk slowly. 慢慢 is warmer and more encouraging than plain 慢.
Two-syllable adjectives double as AABB: 高高兴兴, 干干净净.
A doubled adjective already carries its own degree, so 很 must not be added: 很慢慢 is wrong.
Examples
nǐ yīng gāi màn màn dì zǒu
你应该慢慢地走。
You should walk slowly.
tā gāo gāo xìng xìng dì huí jiā le
他高高兴兴地回家了。
He went home happily.
fáng jiān gān gān jìng jìng de
房间干干净净的。
The room is spotless.
Common mistakes
- Never put 很 in front of a doubled adjective.