重复
chóngfù
The Chinese word for 'repeat' is 重复 (chóngfù).
重复 is used to describe the action of doing or saying something again. When you are asking someone to repeat something, it is very common to add the phrase 一遍 (yí biàn) after the verb to mean 'repeat it once'.
Meaning: do or say again (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 重复 consists of two parts: 重 (chóng), meaning 'again' or 'repeatedly' and 复 (fù), meaning 'to double' or 'to repeat'.
Which one should you use?
While 重复 is a formal way to say 'repeat', in casual spoken conversation, people often use 重说 (chóngshuō) to mean 'say that again'. Additionally, if you want to emphasize the importance of a repetition, you can use the formal term 重申 (chóngshēn).
How do you pronounce it?
chóngfù
Did you know?
- The character 重 is a heteronym that changes its sound from 'zhòng' meaning 'heavy' to 'chóng' meaning 'again' when used in 重复.
- The word for 'review' or 'study' 复习 uses the same character for 'repeat' 复, framing the act of learning as a literal repetition of previous work.
- Because 复 carries the meaning of 'to double', the concept of repetition in Chinese is often visually and conceptually linked to the idea of doubling something.
Examples in context
- 你能重复一遍吗？Could you please repeat that?This sentence is useful for asking someone to repeat something using 重复.Tatoeba #1772679 by sadhen, translation #2242 by CK
- 您可以再重复一遍刚才说的话吗？Could you please repeat what you just said?This sentence is useful for asking someone to repeat a specific thing they just said using 重复.Tatoeba #5668922 by hzy980512, translation #433596 by CK
- 重复！Repeat!This sentence shows the use of 重复 as a command.Tatoeba #10981491 by Elaineeeeee, translation #2701630 by Thanuir
- 请重复一遍 (Qǐng chóngfù yī biàn)Please repeat it again.
- 对不起，请再说一遍 (Duìbùqǐ, qǐng zài shuō yī biàn)Sorry, please say it again.
- 我想重申一下我的立场 (Wǒ xiǎng chóngshēn yīxià wǒ de lìchǎng)I would like to restate my position.
- 你能再说一次吗？ (Nǐ néng zài shuō yī cì ma?)Can you say it again?
- 别慌，再重复一遍就好 (Bié huāng, zài chóngfù yī biàn jiù hǎo)Don't panic, just repeat it again.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two classmates are discussing a lecture in the library.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，老师刚才说了什么？Xiǎowén, lǎoshī gāngcái shuōle shénme?Xiaowen, what did the teacher just say?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他让我们重复一遍这段话。Tā ràng wǒmen chóngfù yībiàn zhè duàn huà.He asked us to repeat this paragraph.
- 俊杰 Junjie我没听清，你能再说一次吗？Wǒ méi tīng qīng, nǐ néng zài shuō yī cì ma?I didn't hear clearly, can you say it again?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没问题，我这就重复给你听。Méi wèntí, wǒ zhè jiù chóngfù gěi nǐ tīng.No problem, I will repeat it for you now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
