c. Many groups of four contain a single repeated verb.
- 打敗之咾紛紛各散 ’táng bá‘ tsz lau fun fun koh san‘, being conquered, they divided and were all scattered.
- 打贏之咾歸來得意揚揚 ’tang yung tsz lau kü lé tuh í‘ yáng yáng, having conquered, he came back satisfied and elated.
- 衣袂飄飄 í mé‘ p’iau p’iau, the shirts of clothes blowing about.
- 星光閃閃 sing kwong sén‘ sén‘, the star-light twinkles.
- 枝葉洽洽 tsz ih yah yah, the branches and leaves are waving.
d. Many verb groups of two are extended by the repetition of each word.
- 事體定定當當 zz‘ t’í ting‘ ding‘ tong‘ tong‘, the thing is brought to a settlement.
- 勿必疑疑惑惑 veh pih ní ní óh óh, you need not suspect.
- 牙齒活活落落 ngá ’t’sz weh weh loh loh, his teeth are shaking and falling out.
- 走𨅓跎之咾興興夯夯 ’tseu sá dú tsz lau h’iung h’iung hong hong, he has walked himself tired and is panting for breath.
- 碗盞相碰响咾歴歴碌碌 ’wén ’tsan siáng báng‘ ’h’iáng lau líh líh lóh lóh, the cups and saucers are falling together and making a noise.
e. Frequently in repeated groups of four, the constituent words alternate.
- 打算打算也勿對景 ’táng sön‘ ’táng sön‘ ’á veh té‘ ’kiung, with all his meditating, he cannot satisfy himself.
- 留步留歩勿要送者 lieu bú‘ lieu bú‘ veh yau‘ sóng‘ ’tsé, stay, stay, do not escort me out.
- 物事好吃有味有味 meh zz‘ ’hau k’iuh ’yeu mí‘ ’yeu mí‘, this thing is very nice, it has a fine taste.
f. The verb is repeated alternately with two accusatives.
- 總要勞心勞力 ’tsóng yau‘ lau sing lau lih, you must use your mind and all your efforts.
- 年成好者謝天謝地 níen zung ’hau ’tsé ziá‘ t’íen ziá‘ dí‘, it is a good year, and we must thank heaven and earth for it.
- 爲皇爲帝 wé wong wé tí‘, to be an emperor.
- 做官做府 tsú‘ kwén tsú‘ ’fú, to be a mandarin.
366. With regard to their syntax, groups consisting of repetitions frequently form separate clauses of a sentence, but not exclusively so. They also like other groups, obey the laws of position of [section 1] in relation to neighbouring words, and in their internal structure, and are construed as adjectives, verbs, or adverbs according to their particular character and use as a whole.
a. As adjective, whether forming a predicate or in apposition.