<p>Both 它的眼睛大大的 and 它的眼睛很大 means the same.</p>

<p>However, 它的眼睛大大的 sounds <strong>cutie, animating, or vivid</strong>(maybe also <strong>girlish</strong>). 它的眼睛很大 only addresses the fact and doesn't have that effect. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-30T23:07:20.590Z
2019-10-30T23:07:20.590Z
dan
<p>Reduplication of adjective put emphasis on it</p>

<p>Same as English: "big" in "He has big big eyes" is more emphasized than the simple "big" in "He has big eyes" </p>

<p>他有<strong>大大的</strong>眼睛 = he has <strong>very big</strong> eyes</p>

<p>它的眼睛<strong>大大的</strong> = his eyes are <strong>very big</strong></p>

<p>Notice, not all adjective can be reduplicated, for example we do not reduplicate 巨 because 巨 is already a higher superlative of 大</p>

<p>Also, we don't reduplicated adjectives that are made up of two same characters, For example, 茫茫 is a compound word, not a reduplication of 茫; 忽忽 is a compound word, not a reduplication of 忽</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-30T20:33:50.943Z
2019-10-30T21:08:10.380Z
2019-10-30T21:08:10.380Z
Tang Ho
<p>It's quite common to use repeated adjectives in song lyrics, to sound more rhythmic and make the lyrics "fit" the poetic structure.  For example, in the song <a href="https://music.163.com/#/song?id=238073" rel="nofollow noreferrer">雪莲</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>蓝蓝</strong>的天空下青草荡漾<br>
  <strong>红红</strong>的太阳映红了脸庞</p>
</blockquote>

<p>We do this in English too, e.g., <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Red_Wine" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Red Red Wine</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T03:34:23.723Z
2019-10-31T03:34:23.723Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>A.she has a big eye</p>

<p>B.she has a big big eye</p>

<p>so, what's the different? it's the same</p>

<p>in real life you will say A.</p>

<p>but when you writing a story、a novel …. maybe you will use B. to describe something more detail, or make it more emotional </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T04:24:52.527Z
2019-10-31T04:24:52.527Z
name
<p>What is the difference in meaning of:</p>
<p>它的眼睛大大的。
它的眼睛很大。</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>他有大大的眼睛。
他有大眼睛。</p>
<p>And more generally, when might someone use reduplication for adjectives?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-09T03:16:48.907Z
In English don't you find -- "You have a long, long way to go in mastering the Chinese language"?
Wayne Cheah
<grammar>
How does reduplication change the meaning of adjectives?
# How does reduplication change the meaning of adjectives?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-30)

What is the difference in meaning of:

它的眼睛大大的。
它的眼睛很大。

and

他有大大的眼睛。
他有大眼睛。

And more generally, when might someone use reduplication for adjectives?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In English don't you find -- "You have a long, long way to go in mastering the Chinese language"?  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-30. Score: 4

Both 它的眼睛大大的 and 它的眼睛很大 means the same.

However, 它的眼睛大大的 sounds **cutie, animating, or vivid**(maybe also **girlish**). 它的眼睛很大 only addresses the fact and doesn't have that effect.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-10-30. Score: 4

Reduplication of adjective put emphasis on it

Same as English: "big" in "He has big big eyes" is more emphasized than the simple "big" in "He has big eyes"

他有**大大的**眼睛 = he has **very big** eyes

它的眼睛**大大的** = his eyes are **very big**

Notice, not all adjective can be reduplicated, for example we do not reduplicate 巨 because 巨 is already a higher superlative of 大

Also, we don't reduplicated adjectives that are made up of two same characters, For example, 茫茫 is a compound word, not a reduplication of 茫; 忽忽 is a compound word, not a reduplication of 忽


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-10-31. Score: 1

It's quite common to use repeated adjectives in song lyrics, to sound more rhythmic and make the lyrics "fit" the poetic structure. For example, in the song [雪莲](https://music.163.com/#/song?id=238073):

> **蓝蓝**的天空下青草荡漾  
> **红红**的太阳映红了脸庞

We do this in English too, e.g., [Red Red Wine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Red_Wine).


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### Answer by username_5 on 2019-10-31. Score: 0

A.she has a big eye

B.she has a big big eye

so, what's the different? it's the same

in real life you will say A.

but when you writing a story、a novel …. maybe you will use B. to describe something more detail, or make it more emotional


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