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Intermediate

Reduplication

Doubling words for meaning nuance

Full reduplication of nouns = distribution or plurality

NOUN + NOUN implies each one / every one.

💬 Examples
ngày ngày
every day / day by day
📝 ngày (day) reduplicated
người người đều vui.
Everyone was happy.
📝 người người = each and every person
Adjective reduplication softens degree

Repeating an adjective creates a softer or vaguer quality.

📊 Reduplication types
Type Example Meaning
noun (distributive) người người every person
adjective (softened) đỏ đỏ reddish
verb (continuative) đi đi lại lại going back and forth
manner (ABAB) lung linh shimmering (set phrase)
alliterative pair lấp lánh glittering (set phrase)
💬 Examples
đỏ đỏ
reddish / somewhat red
📝 reduplication = approximate color
xa xa
rather far / somewhat distant
📝 xa (far) reduced in intensity
ABAB and alliterative pairs are fixed expressions

Pairs like lung linh and lấp lánh are set phrases with specific meanings.

💬 Examples
lung linh
shimmering / glittering
📝 fixed reduplicated expression
lập lòe
flickering / flashing
📝 alliterative pair = visual effect