Lessons 2, 6, 8, 13: Symmetrical structures: 又……又……, 一……一……, 半……不……, 一……就是……

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   又+A+又+B

   Two actions, states, or situations exist together.

   • 我看了以后觉得又高兴又不好意思。

     Wǒ kàn le yǐhòu juéde yòu gāoxìng yòu bù hǎoyìsi.

     After watching it, I felt both happy and embarrassed.

   • 她又会唱歌又会跳舞。

     Tā yòu huì chànggē yòu huì tiàowǔ.

     She can both sing and dance.

   • 这件又便宜又好看。

     Zhè jiàn yòu piányi yòu hǎokàn.

     This is both cheap and nice-looking.

2. 2
   半+A+不+B

   Half-done, usually carrying a sense of dissatisfaction or dislike.

   • 半懂不懂

     bàn dǒng bù dǒng

     Half understanding

   • 半新不旧

     bàn xīn bú jiù

     Neither new nor old

   • 半生不熟

     bàn shēng bù shú

     Half raw, half cooked

   • 半死不活

     bàn sǐ bù huó

     Half dead, half alive

   • 我家院子里有一棵葡萄树，几年来一直半死不活的，不料去年竟然长出了许多叶子，还结了许多葡萄。

     Wǒ jiā yuànzi li yǒu yì kē pútao shù, jǐ nián lái yìzhí bànsǐ-bùhuó de, búliào qùnián jìngrán zhǎng chū le xǔduō yèzi, hái jié le xǔduō pútao.

     There is a grapevine in my yard that has been barely alive for several years, but unexpectedly last year it grew many leaves and bore a lot of grapes.

3. 3
   一+V1verb 1+一+V2 (động từ cùng loại / trái nghĩa)

   Same kind: continuous action; opposite: actions in turn.

   • 一蹦一跳

     yí bèng yí tiào

     Hopping and jumping (skipping along)

   • 一走一拐

     yì zǒu yì guǎi

     Limping (one step, then a drag of the leg)

   • 一问一答

     yí wèn yì dá

     One question, one answer

4. 4
   一+N1+一+N2 (danh từ cùng loại)

   Expresses the whole, or a small quantity.

   • 一心一意

     yìxīn-yíyì

     With one heart and one mind (wholeheartedly)

   • 一针一线

     yì zhēn yí xiàn

     Every needle and thread (the smallest things)

   • 一草一木

     yì cǎo yí mù

     Every blade of grass and every tree

   • 一言一行

     yì yán yì xíng

     Every word and deed

   • 一举一动

     yì jǔ yí dòng

     Every move and action

5. 5
   一+danh từ mượn làm lượng từ+的optional+Nnoun

   “一” means “满” (full).

   • 一脸汗

     yì liǎn hàn

     A face full of sweat

   • 一手土

     yì shǒu tǔ

     Hands covered in dirt

   • 一桌子菜

     yì zhuōzi cài

     A table full of food

   • 一屋子烟

     yì wūzi yān

     A room full of smoke

   • 一脸的警惕

     yì liǎn de jǐngtì

     Looking wary (a humorous way of saying it)

6. 6
   一+Vverb+就是+khoảng thời gian

   Once it starts, it lasts a very long time.

   • 他晚上看书，一看就是几个小时。

     Tā wǎnshang kàn shū, yí kàn jiùshì jǐ ge xiǎoshí.

     In the evening he reads, and once he starts, it's several hours straight.

   • 我在电脑前一坐就是一上午。

     Wǒ zài diànnǎo qián yí zuò jiùshì yí shàngwǔ.

     Once I sit in front of the computer, the whole morning is gone.

   • 因没考上大学就留在北京当了歌手，一留就是四年。

     Yīn méi kǎoshàng dàxué jiù liú zài Běijīng dāng le gēshǒu, yì liú jiùshì sì nián.

     Because he didn't get into university, he stayed in Beijing to be a singer, and once he stayed, it was four years.