Softening a verb: reduplication (看看) and 一下儿
动词重叠 / verb reduplication (V + 一下儿), lesson extra
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
V V (看看) / V V (休息休息) / V + 一下儿
To say you do something briefly or to try it out, double the verb: 看看 (have a look), 试试 (give it a try). The second syllable is toneless: kànkan.
For a two-syllable verb, repeat the whole thing: 休息休息 (rest a bit).
Verb + 一下儿 (yíxiàr) has the same effect: 看一下儿, 等一下儿 (wait a moment).
This is very common for politeness: 你试试这个 is much softer than 你试这个.
Examples
我看看。
Wǒ kànkan.Let me have a look.
你试试这个。
Nǐ shìshi zhège.Try this one.
请等一下儿。
Qǐng děng yíxiàr.Please wait a moment.
我们休息休息吧。
Wǒmen xiūxi xiūxi ba.Let's take a little rest.
Common mistakes
✗ 看看一下儿 → ✓ 看看 or ✓ 看一下儿 (not both).
✗ 休休息息 → ✓ 休息休息 (repeat the whole verb).
✗ 我昨天看看了 → for the past: ✓ 我昨天看了看 (later).