<p>quotation from 外国人实用汉语语法：
(1) the reduplication of a verb implies a short and quick 
action </p>

<p>(2) expresses an attempt or trial</p>

<p>(3)expresses a sense of being light and relaxed</p>

<p>and the same goes for  [verb] +一下 </p>

<p>请洗你的袜子 seems to make sense in Mandarin</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-24T21:53:41.893Z
请洗洗你的袜子=Pls try washing your socks. This sentence is somehow full of malice...
Joseph S WU
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-26T03:14:40.493Z
@JosephSWU, it might not be socks... I don't remember, but didn't double-check it out since I think it is not really the topic of this question...
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-24T20:06:04.137Z
2014-10-24T20:06:04.137Z
user6065
<p>I've read these sentences in my Rosetta Stone courses:</p>

<pre><code>请洗洗你的袜子
请洗一下楼梯
</code></pre>

<p>However, why does the first sentence use two <code>洗</code> consecutively before taking the object? Also, how can I tell when to use one verb and when to use two verbs?</p>

<p>And finally, does the <code>请洗你的袜子</code> make sense in Mandarin? If that does make sense and is used often, what's the difference between the two?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-18T10:11:43.757Z
like: 看: look; 看看, 看一看, 看一下: take a look.
xenophōn
<mandarin><verbs>
Why does the `请` take two duplicate words on its verb occasionally (e.g. `请洗洗你的袜子`)
# Why does the `请` take two duplicate words on its verb occasionally (e.g. `请洗洗你的袜子`)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-24)

I've read these sentences in my Rosetta Stone courses:
请洗洗你的袜子
请洗一下楼梯

However, why does the first sentence use two 洗 consecutively before taking the object? Also, how can I tell when to use one verb and when to use two verbs?
And finally, does the 请洗你的袜子 make sense in Mandarin? If that does make sense and is used often, what's the difference between the two?

**Tags:** mandarin, verbs

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: like: 看: look; 看看, 看一看, 看一下: take a look.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-10-24. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

quotation from 外国人实用汉语语法：
(1) the reduplication of a verb implies a short and quick
action

(2) expresses an attempt or trial

(3)expresses a sense of being light and relaxed

and the same goes for [verb] +一下

请洗你的袜子 seems to make sense in Mandarin

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 请洗洗你的袜子=Pls try washing your socks. This sentence is somehow full of malice...  
> **username_0**: @JosephSWU, it might not be socks... I don't remember, but didn't double-check it out since I think it is not really the topic of this question...  

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