Repeated Verb Around a Complement in Chinese
重动词
When a verb has both an object and a degree or state complement, Mandarin often repeats the verb: the first occurrence takes the object, and the second introduces 得 plus the complement. This keeps the object from blocking the close verb-得 relationship required by complements such as 说得很好.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + Complement
Read the structure
When a verb has both an object and a degree or state complement, Mandarin often repeats the verb: the first occurrence takes the object, and the second introduces 得 plus the complement. This keeps the object from blocking the close verb-得 relationship required by complements such as 说得很好. Keep the model Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + Complement visible while you compare each sentence.
他说中文说得很好。
He speaks Chinese very well.
Choose the right context
Repeat a verb when naming its object before a 得 complement. Use the second verb directly before 得 and the description. Use the pattern to evaluate how well an object-related activity is performed.
她写字写得很快。
She writes characters very quickly.
Respect the boundary
Do not place the object between the second verb and 得. Do not omit the repeated verb while leaving the object before 得. Do not add perfective 了 between the second verb and 得.
他说中文得很好。
(He speaks Chinese very well.)
Repair the pattern
Object blocks verb and 得: 得 must follow the verb it complements directly; repeating 说 after the object restores the required 说得 sequence. Object inserted after repeated verb: The object is stated after the first 写; the repeated 写 must be followed immediately by 得, not by a second object.
他说中文说得很好。
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.
他说中文说得很好。
He speaks Chinese very well.
他
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
说
Object
This part occupies the Object position in the model pattern.
中文
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
说得
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
很好
Complement
This part occupies the Complement 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.
他说中文说得很好。
He speaks Chinese very well.
她写字写得很快。
She writes characters very quickly.
弟弟唱歌唱得不错。
My younger brother sings quite well.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Repeat a verb when naming its object before a 得 complement.
- Use the second verb directly before 得 and the description.
- Use the pattern to evaluate how well an object-related activity is performed.
Do not use it when
- Do not place the object between the second verb and 得.
- Do not omit the repeated verb while leaving the object before 得.
- Do not add perfective 了 between the second verb and 得.
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.
他说中文得很好。
他说中文说得很好。
Object blocks verb and 得
得 must follow the verb it complements directly; repeating 说 after the object restores the required 说得 sequence.
她写字写字得很快。
她写字写得很快。
Object inserted after repeated verb
The object is stated after the first 写; the repeated 写 must be followed immediately by 得, not by a second object.
他说中文得很好。
得 must follow the verb it complements directly; repeating 说 after the object restores the required 说得 sequence.
她写字写字得很快。
The object is stated after the first 写; the repeated 写 must be followed immediately by 得, not by a second object.
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 重动词.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 重动词. 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 Verb Around a Complement Questions
Why is the verb repeated?
One copy carries the object, while the other stays next to 得 and its complement.
Can I omit the object?
Yes. Without an expressed object, use the simpler form 他说得很好.
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 3 item 【三59】 (PDF p. 208)
Provides official Level 3 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 32, §32.6, degree complements with expressed objects
Gives verb-object-verb-得-complement as a standard way to combine an expressed object with a degree complement.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
打开/看见/离开/完成Result Verbs and Achieved Endpoints
Distinguish between the 重动词 processing of the existing object and then the complement and the lexicalization result combinations such as 打开看见 to check why the verb is repeated.
Easy to confuse
得不行/要命/要死Extreme Degree Complements
Compare the general complement after 重动词 and the extreme degree evaluation of 得不行要命要死. Pay attention to whether 重动词 is needed when the object appears.
Continue learning
得The 得 (de) Complement
Return to the basic rules of 得 complements from the 重动词 structure, and continue to check the complete order of the verb object verb 得 complements.
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Continue learning
Return to the basic rules of 得 complements from the 重动词 structure, and continue to check the complete order of the verb object verb 得 complements.