chóngfù: 重复 - To Repeat, Duplicate, Repetition

• Keywords: chongfu, 重复, repeat in Chinese, how to say duplicate in Chinese, repetition in Chinese, redundant in Chinese, Chinese vocabulary HSK 4, learn Chinese, Chinese grammar, wiederholen auf Chinesisch, répéter en chinois
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 重复 (chóngfù), which means “to repeat,” “duplicate,” or “repetition.” This guide covers its core meaning, cultural significance in learning, and practical use in daily conversation, from asking someone to repeat themselves to describing a task as redundant. Master chóngfù to improve your communication and understand a key concept in Chinese culture and learning.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chóngfù
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To do, say, or write something again; the act of repeating.
• In a Nutshell: 重复 (chóngfù) is the go-to word for talking about repetition in a slightly formal or neutral way. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “to repeat” or “duplication.” It can be used as a verb (“Please repeat that”) or a noun (“This work has too much repetition”). While it's often neutral, it can carry a negative feeling if you're describing something as boringly repetitive or redundant.

• 重 (chóng): In this context, this character means “again” or “to layer.” It's a different reading from `zhòng`, which means “heavy.” Think of it as piling one action on top of an identical one.
• 复 (fù): This character also means “to repeat,” “to return,” or “to resume.” It carries the idea of going back and doing something again.
• By combining two characters that both mean “again” or “repeat,” 重复 (chóngfù) becomes a strong and clear term for the concept of repetition, more formal than simply saying “again” in English.

In Chinese culture, particularly in traditional education and skill development, 重复 (chóngfù) holds a deeply positive and fundamental value. The idiom 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo), meaning “practice makes perfect,” is the philosophical backbone of this concept. This contrasts with some modern Western educational approaches that may criticize “rote memorization” in favor of “critical thinking.” In China, however, repetition in areas like calligraphy, martial arts, music, and text memorization is not seen as mindless. Instead, it is viewed as the essential path to internalizing a skill so deeply that it becomes second nature, freeing the mind for higher levels of creativity and mastery. 重复 is the foundation upon which true skill (功夫 - gōngfu) is built. Therefore, while calling a movie's plot 重复 is a criticism (implying it's unoriginal), praising a student for their diligent 重复 of characters is a compliment, recognizing their commitment to foundational learning.

重复 (chóngfù) is a versatile word used in various modern contexts.

• In Conversation: It's slightly more formal than the common phrase `再说一遍 (zài shuō yī biàn)`. You might hear a teacher say `请重复一遍 (qǐng chóngfù yī biàn)` (“Please repeat it”) to a student.
• In the Workplace: It's frequently used to describe tasks or data. `这份报告里有很多重复的内容 (zhè fèn bàogào lǐ yǒu hěnduō chóngfù de nèiróng)` means “There is a lot of repeated/redundant content in this report.” It can also refer to repeating a mistake: `我们不能重复同样的错误 (wǒmen bùnéng chóngfù tóngyàng de cuòwù)`.
• As a Noun (Repetition/Duplication): It can describe the concept itself. `为了避免重复，我们先开会讨论一下 (wèile bìmiǎn chóngfù, wǒmen xiān kāihuì tǎolùn yīxià)` means “To avoid duplication of effort, let's have a meeting to discuss it first.”

Its connotation is highly dependent on context:

• Neutral: Scientific experiments, learning exercises, technical instructions.
• Negative: Boring movie plots, redundant work, making the same mistake, uninspired art.

• Example 1:
  • 老师，您能重复一下您刚才说的话吗？
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, nín néng chóngfù yīxià nín gāngcái shuō de huà ma?
  • English: Teacher, could you please repeat what you just said?
  • Analysis: A polite and slightly formal way to ask for repetition in a classroom setting.
• Example 2:
  • 历史总是在重复自己。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ zǒngshì zài chóngfù zìjǐ.
  • English: History always repeats itself.
  • Analysis: Using 重复 to describe a large, abstract concept. This is a common philosophical phrase.
• Example 3:
  • 我不想再重复同样的错误了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùxiǎng zài chóngfù tóngyàng de cuòwù le.
  • English: I don't want to repeat the same mistake again.
  • Analysis: Here, 重复 carries a negative connotation of an undesirable action happening again.
• Example 4:
  • 这份工作每天都是简单的重复，真没意思。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn gōngzuò měitiān dōu shì jiǎndān de chóngfù, zhēn méi yìsi.
  • English: This job is just simple repetition every day, it's really boring.
  • Analysis: 重复 is used as a noun here, meaning “repetition,” and is the source of the speaker's boredom.
• Example 5:
  • 为了确保准确，这个实验需要重复三次。
  • Pinyin: Wèile quèbǎo zhǔnquè, zhège shíyàn xūyào chóngfù sāncì.
  • English: To ensure accuracy, this experiment needs to be repeated three times.
  • Analysis: A neutral, technical use of 重复. Repetition here is a necessary and positive part of a process.
• Example 6:
  • 这两张图片是重复的，你可以删掉一张。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng zhāng túpiàn shì chóngfù de, nǐ kěyǐ shān diào yī zhāng.
  • English: These two pictures are duplicates, you can delete one.
  • Analysis: Here, 重复 means “duplicate” or “identical.”
• Example 7:
  • 他的演讲内容空洞，充满了重复的口号。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng nèiróng kōngdòng, chōngmǎnle chóngfù de kǒuhào.
  • English: His speech was empty and full of repetitive slogans.
  • Analysis: A clear negative usage, implying a lack of originality and substance.
• Example 8:
  • 在学习语言的初期，大量的重复是必不可少的。
  • Pinyin: Zài xuéxí yǔyán de chūqī, dàliàng de chóngfù shì bì bùkě shǎo de.
  • English: In the early stages of language learning, a large amount of repetition is essential.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the positive cultural value placed on repetition in learning.
• Example 9:
  • 请检查一下名单，确保没有重复的名字。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jiǎnchá yīxià míngdān, quèbǎo méiyǒu chóngfù de míngzì.
  • English: Please check the list to ensure there are no duplicate names.
  • Analysis: A practical instruction where 重复 means “duplicate” in the context of data entry.
• Example 10:
  • 你不必重复他的话，我已经听到了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùbì chóngfù tā de huà, wǒ yǐjīng tīngdào le.
  • English: You don't need to repeat what he said, I already heard it.
  • Analysis: A common conversational use to stop someone from saying something again, implying it's unnecessary.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 重复 (chóngfù), 再 (zài), and 又 (yòu).

• 重复 (chóngfù): A verb or noun. It refers to repeating the *entire content or action*. It's more formal.
  • Correct: `请重复这个步骤。` (Please repeat this step.)
  • Correct: `这是一个重复。` (This is a repetition.)
• 再 (zài): An adverb meaning “again,” used for actions that have not yet happened (or are being requested). It's placed before the verb. It cannot be a noun.
  • Correct: `请你再说一遍。` (Please say it again.)
  • Incorrect: `*请你重复说一遍。` (Grammatically awkward; `再` is much more natural here).
  • Incorrect: `*我明天重复来。` (You must say: `我明天再来。` - I will come again tomorrow.)
• 又 (yòu): An adverb meaning “again,” used for actions that have *already happened*. It often carries a sense of surprise or frustration.
  • Correct: `他昨天迟到，今天又迟到了。` (He was late yesterday, and he was late again today.)
  • Incorrect: `*他明天又会迟到。` (Should be `他明天可能还会迟到。` or similar; `又` is for past repetition).

In short: Use 重复 for the concept of repetition or to formally request it. Use 再 for future/requested “agains.” Use 又 for past “agains.”

• 再说一遍 (zài shuō yī biàn) - “Say it again.” The most common and colloquial way to ask someone to repeat what they said. Less formal than `请重复一遍`.
• 反复 (fǎnfù) - “Repeatedly,” “over and over.” This term emphasizes the continuous, back-and-forth nature of an action, often suggesting deep consideration or struggle (e.g., `他反复思考这个问题` - He thought about this problem over and over).
• 复制 (fùzhì) - “To copy,” “to duplicate.” More specific than 重复. It almost always refers to making an exact copy of something, like a document, file, or key.
• 单调 (dāndiào) - “Monotonous,” “dull,” “drab.” This adjective often describes the negative feeling that results from too much 重复.
• 冗余 (rǒngyú) - “Redundant,” “superfluous.” A formal, technical, or academic term for unnecessary repetition, especially in writing, engineering, or data.
• 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo) - A very famous idiom that means “Practice makes perfect.” It is the cultural principle that gives positive value to the act of 重复.
• 模仿 (mófǎng) - “To imitate,” “to mimic.” A type of repetition focused on copying a specific person, style, or model as a form of learning or performance.