dip6 zi6疊字叠字
Jyutpingdip6 zi6
Yaledihp jih
Definition
Reduplication; a rhetorical device or word-formation method where a character is repeated successively.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Reduplication is frequently employed to soften the tone of a sentence or to add a sense of endearment or playfulness. While it is common in child-directed speech, adults often use it to sound more approachable or to emphasize a specific quality, such as describing something as being very small or round. Overusing it in professional settings can make a speaker appear immature or overly casual.
Examples
He likes using reduplicated words when he speaks; it sounds very cute.
Why do you always use reduplicated words? You sound like a child.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake reduplication for a grammatical requirement rather than a stylistic choice. Using it for every adjective or noun will sound unnatural and forced, as it is primarily used to convey a specific emotional nuance or emphasis.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
