<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.  

---

## 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**: @username_3, 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...  

---

