====== chóngfù: 重复 - To Repeat, Duplicate, Repetition ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**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 Sentences =====
  * **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.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
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."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[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.