Repeated Back-and-Forth Pattern A来A去 in Chinese
A来A去
The fixed pattern A来A去 repeats the same verb around 来 and 去 to portray repeated, extended, or back-and-forth activity. With mental or discussion verbs it often suggests prolonged deliberation without quick resolution. Both copies of A and both directional elements are required in their fixed order; aspect cannot interrupt the pattern.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
A + 来 + A + 去
Read the structure
The fixed pattern A来A去 repeats the same verb around 来 and 去 to portray repeated, extended, or back-and-forth activity. With mental or discussion verbs it often suggests prolonged deliberation without quick resolution. Both copies of A and both directional elements are required in their fixed order; aspect cannot interrupt the pattern. Keep the model A + 来 + A + 去 visible while you compare each sentence.
我想来想去，还是决定留下。
After thinking it over repeatedly, I decided to stay.
Choose the right context
Use a motion verb in A来A去 for repeated movement. Use 想来想去 for prolonged consideration. Use 讨论来讨论去 for extended circular discussion.
大家讨论来讨论去，没有结果。
Everyone discussed it back and forth without reaching a result.
Respect the boundary
Do not use different verbs in the two A slots. Do not omit 去 from the completed pattern. Do not insert aspect marking between A and 来 or 去.
我想来看去，还是没决定。
(I thought it over repeatedly but still did not decide.)
Repair the pattern
Second verb differs from the first A slot: The construction requires the same verb in both A slots: 想来想去. Aspect marker splits the second verb-direction unit: In A来A去, the second verb must directly precede 去; aspect 了 cannot split that fixed unit.
我想来想去，还是没决定。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我想来想去，还是决定留下。
After thinking it over repeatedly, I decided to stay.
我想
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
来
来
This part occupies the 来 position in the model pattern.
想去
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
，
去
This part occupies the 去 position in the model pattern.
还是
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
决定
来
This part occupies the 来 position in the model pattern.
留下
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我想来想去，还是决定留下。
After thinking it over repeatedly, I decided to stay.
大家讨论来讨论去，没有结果。
Everyone discussed it back and forth without reaching a result.
孩子们在院子里跑来跑去。
The children ran back and forth in the yard.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use a motion verb in A来A去 for repeated movement.
- Use 想来想去 for prolonged consideration.
- Use 讨论来讨论去 for extended circular discussion.
Do not use it when
- Do not use different verbs in the two A slots.
- Do not omit 去 from the completed pattern.
- Do not insert aspect marking between A and 来 or 去.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我想来看去，还是没决定。
我想来想去，还是没决定。
Second verb differs from the first A slot
The construction requires the same verb in both A slots: 想来想去.
孩子们跑来跑了去。
孩子们跑来跑去。
Aspect marker splits the second verb-direction unit
In A来A去, the second verb must directly precede 去; aspect 了 cannot split that fixed unit.
我想来看去，还是没决定。
The construction requires the same verb in both A slots: 想来想去.
孩子们跑来跑了去。
In A来A去, the second verb must directly precede 去; aspect 了 cannot split that fixed unit.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with A来A去.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with A来A去. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Repeated Back-and-Forth Pattern A来A去 Questions
Must A be one syllable?
No. Multisyllabic verbs such as 讨论 can fill both A slots.
Does the pattern always describe physical motion?
No. It also extends to thinking, discussing, and other repeated activity.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五17】 (PDF p. 224)
Provides official Level 5 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 19, Directional complements
Supports 来 and 去 as directional elements following verbs; GF item 【五17】 supplies the exact repeated A来A去 construction and its extended uses.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
个不停/个没完Continuous State Complement with 个
A来A去 depicts back-and-forth repetition; 个不停 or 个没完 emphasizes that an action does not stop.
Easy to confuse
A这A那Diffuse Reference Pattern A这A那
Compare A来A去 going back and forth around the same action with A这A那 going around multiple objects, and distinguish whether the core of the repetition is an action or a reference.
Continue learning
重动词Repeated Verb Around a Complement
Compare the verb repetition of A来A去 with the complement of 重动词 to avoid misjudging the complement structure when seeing repeated verbs.
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Compare the verb repetition of A来A去 with the complement of 重动词 to avoid misjudging the complement structure when seeing repeated verbs.