Verb duplication
In Chinese, you can repeat certain things to show you’ll be doing them "a little bit", or that they are happening briefly. It gives the whole sentence a more relaxed and casual tone. It also sounds cuter. Kid books in Chinese are full of verb reduplications!
Structure
Subject + Verb + Verb + Object
Examples
我 看看. I’m taking a little look.
你 去 问 问. Go ask!式 式 吧. Try it on!我 给 你 介绍 介绍… Let me introduce you (this)…
The "Verb 一 Verb" pattern
This pattern works in the same way as the "VV" pattern we just saw; just insert an 一 between both verbs! It also softens the tone of the sentence, and makes it sound more relaxed.
Structure
Subject + Verb + 一 + Verb + Object
Examples
请 你 说 一 说。Please tell me.
我 能 不 能 看 一 看 这 本 书？Can I have a quick look at this book?我们 今天 下午 去 打 一 打 篮球 吧。 Let’s play a little bball together this afternoon!