Pattern A来A去 — Back and Forth
四字格式：A来A去
Use the A来A去 pattern to express repeated or prolonged action without resolution
Repeat the same verb with 来 and 去 to express doing something repeatedly, going back and forth, or being unable to reach a conclusion. The pattern conveys duration, repetition, or futility.
A can be a monosyllabic verb (想, 走, 说, 飞) or a disyllabic verb (讨论, 商量). With movement verbs (走, 跑, 飞), it literally means moving back and forth. With mental verbs (想, 说, 讨论), it implies prolonged deliberation without resolution.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Pattern A来A去 — Back and Forth (四字格式：A来A去)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 四字格式：A来A去 pattern
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Understanding 四字格式：A来A去
The pattern A来A去 is one of the most expressive structures in Chinese. It takes a verb and repeats it with 来 (come) and 去 (go) to create a vivid image of going back and forth, doing something over and over, or deliberating endlessly. When you say 想来想去, you are picturing someone turning a thought over and over in their mind. When you say 飞来飞去, you see something flying back and forth. The pattern has two main flavors: physical movement (走来走去 — pacing back and forth) and mental/verbal repetition (讨论来讨论去 — discussing over and over without resolving). In the second case, the pattern often implies frustration or futility — all that effort led nowhere. This is an essential pattern for vivid storytelling and expressing the feeling of going in circles.
Key Points
- A来A去 = doing A repeatedly or going back and forth.
- With movement verbs: literal back-and-forth motion (走来走去, 飞来飞去).
- With mental/verbal verbs: prolonged deliberation (想来想去, 说来说去).
- Often followed by a conclusion using 还是: 想来想去，还是…… (after much deliberation, still...).
- Disyllabic verbs work too: 讨论来讨论去, 商量来商量去.
- The pattern conveys vividness and often a sense of futility or exhaustion.
Chinese is rich in four-character expressions (四字格) that paint vivid pictures. A来A去 is one of the most productive patterns — native speakers create new combinations freely. Using these patterns makes your Chinese sound natural and expressive, much more so than using plain adverbs like 反复 (repeatedly).
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
想来想去，还是小王最合适。
After thinking it over and over, Xiao Wang is still the most suitable.
大家讨论来讨论去，最后还是没解决。
Everyone discussed it back and forth, but in the end it still wasn't resolved.
她是一名导游，经常在世界各地飞来飞去。
She is a tour guide, constantly flying back and forth around the world.
他在房间里走来走去，看起来很着急。
He paced back and forth in the room, looking very anxious.
说来说去还是那几句话，没有新意。
They keep saying the same few things over and over — nothing new.
孩子们在操场上跑来跑去，玩得很开心。
The children ran back and forth on the playground, having a great time.
找来找去，终于在沙发下面找到了钥匙。
After searching and searching, I finally found the keys under the sofa.
商量来商量去，我们决定还是坐火车去。
After deliberating back and forth, we decided to take the train after all.
Common Mistakes
The verb must be repeated on both sides: A来A去. You cannot skip the second A.
While not strictly wrong, 吃来吃去 sounds unnatural because eating is not a searching or deliberating action. Use verbs that imply searching, choosing, or deliberating.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
A来A去 is one of the most natural-sounding patterns in Chinese. Native speakers use it constantly in conversation.
For deliberation verbs (想, 讨论, 商量), follow the pattern with 还是 to give the final conclusion.
For movement verbs (走, 跑, 飞), the pattern paints a vivid picture of back-and-forth motion.
Try combining this pattern with emotions: 他急得走来走去 (He was so anxious he paced back and forth).
Homework
Use the A来A去 pattern with five different verbs. Include at least two movement verbs and two deliberation verbs. For each sentence, make the context clear — describe who is doing the action, why, and what the outcome is.