密密麻麻 (mì mi má má) — densely packed, thickly scattered (of many small items)
Definition
An onomatopoeia-style reduplicated adjective for things (stars, ants, writing) crowded so closely together you can barely pick out individuals. Always used predicatively with 的, not as a plain modifier before a noun.
bound form
densely packedthickly scattered (of many small items)
Examples
- 密密麻麻，。Tiān shàng de xīng xing mì mi má má de, tè bié hǎo kàn.The stars in the sky are densely packed and look especially beautiful.
- 密密麻麻。Zhǐ shàng xiě mǎn le mì mi má má de xiǎo zì.The paper was covered with densely packed small characters.
- 密密麻麻。Mǎ yǐ zài qiáng shàng pá dé mì mi má má de.The ants were crawling thickly on the wall.
Origin
Reduplicated word构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication
A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.
The doubled forms 「密密」 and 「麻麻」 intensify the image of many small things packed tightly.
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