RealHSK

HSK 5Lesson 4 of 11 · 6 grammar points

Repeated activity and extreme evaluations

A来A去 profiles repetition; A着A着 sets up an event during an activity; 说A就A emphasizes prompt action. Fixed negative-looking expressions may actually intensify or remove necessity. Do not translate them character by character.

Learning goals (6)
  • Repeated action back and forth.
  • An event arising during repetition.
  • Paired absence expressions.
  • Immediate commitment or change.
  • Extreme degree: 不得了.
  • No need for an action.

A来A去

Repeated action back and forth

A来A去 describes repetition, movement in different directions, or mentally revisiting something.

我想来想去，还是决定留下。

Wǒ xiǎng lái xiǎng qù, hái shì jué dìng liú xià.

After thinking it over repeatedly, I decided to stay.

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Pitfall: This need not involve literal movement.

A着A着

An event arising during repetition

A着A着 presents an ongoing activity during which another development occurs.

他说着说着就笑了。

Tā shuō zhe shuō zhe jiù xiào le.

As he was talking, he started laughing.

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Pitfall: The second event develops during the first, not necessarily after it is finished.

没A没B

Paired absence expressions

没A没B forms conventional descriptions such as 没日没夜. Many carry a strong evaluative tone.

他没日没夜地工作。

Tā méi rì méi yè de gōng zuò.

He works day and night.

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Pitfall: Do not invent arbitrary paired forms by analogy.

说A就A

Immediate commitment or change

说A就A describes acting promptly once mentioned or an abrupt change.

他做事说干就干。

Tā zuò shì shuō gàn jiù gàn.

When he decides to do something, he gets on with it immediately.

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Pitfall: The frame emphasizes immediacy, not quotation of the word 干.

不得了

Extreme degree: 不得了

不得了 evaluates a degree as exceptional; 得不得了 follows a descriptive predicate.

孩子高兴得不得了。

Hái zi gāo xìng de bù dé liǎo.

The child is extremely happy.

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Pitfall: The phrase is not the negative potential of 得到.

用不着

No need for an action

用不着 means an action is unnecessary, sometimes with a dismissive tone.

这点小事用不着担心。

Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì yòng bù zháo dān xīn.

There is no need to worry about this small matter.

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Pitfall: It does not mean the action is impossible or forbidden.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Repeated action back and forth

    Syllabus item
    A来A去
    Category
    四字格
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-021
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)

  • An event arising during repetition

    Syllabus item
    A着A着
    Category
    四字格
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-022
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)

  • Paired absence expressions

    Syllabus item
    没A没B
    Category
    四字格
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-023
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)

  • Immediate commitment or change

    Syllabus item
    说A就A
    Category
    四字格
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-024
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)

  • Extreme degree: 不得了

    Syllabus item
    不得了
    Category
    其他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-025
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)

  • No need for an action

    Syllabus item
    用不着
    Category
    其他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L5-026
    PDF page
    398 (printed 395)