Twins & Triplets part 4
The Twins & Triplets series is about words made up of the same components repeated a few times. By looking at the base components, we get an idea of what the more complex words mean. For example, we covered these in earlier posts:
Part 1: 一二三 followed by 口回品 and 人从众
Part 2: 日昌晶 followed by 木林森 and 火炎焱
Part 3: 石磊 and 金鑫
Today, in our last installment, we're going to share 2 sets of "twins words" :
1. 又 双
1 又 = also or again
2 又 side by side = 双 shuāng
This is easy to figure out.
On its own, 又 means also or again. When there are 2 of them together, it is (both literally and figuratively) again & again i.e. a pair or doubles.
Hence we often use the expression 双喜临门 shuāng xǐ lín mén to describe 2 happy or fortunate events happening simultaneously.
Twins are called 双胞胎 shuāng bāo tāi; the zodiac sign Gemini, characterized by a pair of twins, is called 双子座 shuāng zǐ zuò.
2. 克 兢
1 克 = to overcome
2 克 = 兢 jīng which means to be fearful or apprehensive
This is a case of opposites.
While 克 on its own strikes a positive can-do tone (to overcome or subdue something), 兢 instead adopts a subdued meaning (to be fearful of something).
How does 兢 appear in daily language?
One effective way is to use the phrase 战战兢兢 zhàn zhàn jīng jīng.
For example: 他去面试时总是战战兢兢的
(He is always jittery and afraid when going for interviews)
This marks the last post for the Twins & Triplets series.
Thanks for staying tuned, hope you've enjoyed reading it.
There are many more Twins & Triplets in the Chinese language but they're not covered as they are less commonly used in our daily lives. Do you think there are others that should still be highlighted? Drop me a note or share in the Comments section.