<p>Simple answer:  No, you can't.<br>
Extended answer:<br>
In this example, no. 冷冷清清 is the only right expression in common usage.<br>
Most of the time, ABB words can't be converted to AABB form. However, there ARE some exceptions. Example: 大咧咧/大大咧咧.<br>
Also, I can't think of an ABB word that can be converted to ABAB form.<br>
土气 is so unnatural when you convert them to ABB, AABB or ABAB form. They're simply wrong. However, 土里土气 is a right expression. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-09T05:57:31.257Z
2017-11-09T05:57:31.257Z
Winfred Huang
<p>Is it okay to say both 冷清清 and 冷清冷清? Can adjectives that can be used into ABB be also used into ABAB or, in a certain case, AABB?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T05:59:54.933Z
冷清,  冷清清 and 冷冷清清 all in dictionaries, AABB is the usual form of duplication for adjectives (ABAB for verbs), cf. bkrs:冷清清 cold and dreary; cold and cheerless; desolate cold and cheerless
fig. lonely
unfrequented冷冷清清 cold and cheerless; desolate, see grammars for some adjectives with duplication ABAB, search Q&A for previous discussions at this site
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:02:07.233Z
Would you teach me how I can duplicate 土气?
Haruto Nagasaki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:04:14.700Z
@HarutoNagasaki, usually we don't duplicate 土气，just 土气.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:04:59.483Z
Is 土气土气 possible, though?
Haruto Nagasaki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:07:05.503Z
That could be sort of idiolect, but it's not that common. It wouldn't change the meaning.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:08:38.393Z
Does duplication change meanings?
Haruto Nagasaki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:11:41.717Z
yes, but not work for all the words. Maybe I should put an answer here.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:17:02.060Z
This might help you. https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26231/how-can-i-tell-apart-which-two-syllable-adjective-forms-abab-to-emphasize-it
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T06:25:53.783Z
compound 土气 consists of 2 nouns, and seems to be used mostly as a noun itself, whereas AB adjectives with duplication AABB usually are of the type A,B both adjectives (or verbs e.g. 拖拉-＞拖拖拉拉）
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-28T11:47:46.300Z
土气 or 土里土气, I have never saw 土气土气.
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-01T09:40:18.610Z
@HarutoNagasaki 土土气气 is "ok"(not good) if you really want to use it, but 土气土气 is just wrong.
GongT
<word-choice><word>
Is it okay to say both 冷清清 and 冷清冷清?
# Is it okay to say both 冷清清 and 冷清冷清?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-28)

Is it okay to say both 冷清清 and 冷清冷清? Can adjectives that can be used into ABB be also used into ABAB or, in a certain case, AABB?

**Tags:** word-choice, word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 冷清,  冷清清 and 冷冷清清 all in dictionaries, AABB is the usual form of duplication for adjectives (ABAB for verbs), cf. bkrs:冷清清 cold and dreary; cold and cheerless; desolate cold and cheerless fig. lonely unfrequented冷冷清清 cold and cheerless; desolate, see grammars for some adjectives with duplication ABAB, search Q&A for previous discussions at this site  
> **username_0**: Would you teach me how I can duplicate 土气?  
> **username_2**: @HarutoNagasaki, usually we don't duplicate 土气，just 土气.  
> **username_0**: Is 土气土气 possible, though?  
> **username_2**: That could be sort of idiolect, but it's not that common. It wouldn't change the meaning.  
> **username_0**: Does duplication change meanings?  
> **username_2**: yes, but not work for all the words. Maybe I should put an answer here.  
> **username_2**: This might help you. https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26231/how-can-i-tell-apart-which-two-syllable-adjective-forms-abab-to-emphasize-it  
> **username_1**: compound 土气 consists of 2 nouns, and seems to be used mostly as a noun itself, whereas AB adjectives with duplication AABB usually are of the type A,B both adjectives (or verbs e.g. 拖拉-＞拖拖拉拉）  
> **username_3**: 土气 or 土里土气, I have never saw 土气土气.  
> **username_4**: @HarutoNagasaki 土土气气 is "ok"(not good) if you really want to use it, but 土气土气 is just wrong.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-11-09. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Simple answer: No, you can't.  
Extended answer:  
In this example, no. 冷冷清清 is the only right expression in common usage.  
Most of the time, ABB words can't be converted to AABB form. However, there ARE some exceptions. Example: 大咧咧/大大咧咧.  
Also, I can't think of an ABB word that can be converted to ABAB form.  
土气 is so unnatural when you convert them to ABB, AABB or ABAB form. They're simply wrong. However, 土里土气 is a right expression.


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