The expressions “高高兴兴” and “高兴高兴” both come from the same word: “高兴,” or “happy.” Despite this, they are still different in both meaning and in the way they’re used. Let’s first take a look at a few sentences:
- 他们高高兴兴地走了。
×他们高兴高兴地走了。
- 快把这个好消息告诉他，让他高兴高兴。
×快把这个好消息告诉他，让他高高兴兴。
Only the first sentence in each of the above examples is correct. Why? Let’s take a look...
Some adjectives in Chinese can be repeated using the pattern “AABB” without changing the part of speech:
高兴 → 高高兴兴 大方 → 大大方方
整齐 → 整整齐齐 漂亮 → 漂漂亮亮
By using the pattern “ABAB,” however, certain adjective can be made into verbs:
高兴 → 高兴高兴
Here “高兴高兴” means “to make (someone) happy.”
The following are other common examples of adjectives that have both “AABB” and “ABAB” forms:
AB AABB (adj.) ABAB (v.)热闹 热热闹闹 热闹热闹
痛快 痛痛快快 痛快痛快
轻松 轻轻松松 轻松轻松
Let’s practice!
For each of the following, fill in the blank with the appropriate repeated form of the adjective provided.
- 放学了，孩子们___________地回家去。（高兴）
- 今天晚上小明开生日聚会，大家都要来，一起___________。（热闹）
- 经理__________地答应了大家提的要求。（痛快）
- 这几天太紧张了，明天我们去唱唱歌，跳跳舞，___________。（轻松）
Key:
- 高高兴兴
- 热闹热闹
- 痛痛快快
- 轻松轻松
Tags:“高高兴兴” and “高兴高兴”
