管管 (guǎn guǎn) — to take care of something a bit (tentative/reduplicated verb form); to mind or look after (casually)

Definition

管管 is the casual, reduplicated form of 管, meaning to look after or mind something in a light, offhand way — softer and more tentative than the plain verb. Often used to tell someone to watch over something briefly (e.g. a place, task, or business).

adjective
to take care of something a bit (tentative/reduplicated verb form)to mind or look after (casually)

Examples

  • 管管，。
    Nǐ lái guǎn guǎn chú fáng, wǒ qù mǎi cài.
    You keep an eye on the kitchen for a bit; I'll go buy groceries.
  • 管管，。
    Tā yě xiǎng guǎn guǎn gōng sī de shì, kě xī méi jīng yàn.
    He also wants to take a hand in the company's affairs, but unfortunately lacks experience.
  • 管管，。
    Bié shén me dōu guǎn guǎn, guǎn hǎo zì jǐ de shì jiù xíng.
    Don't meddle in everything—just take care of your own business.

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.

管guǎnlook after
管guǎnlook after

The two 管 together suggest looking after something briefly or casually.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
官
官guān管guǎn
Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Open 管 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
官
官guān管guǎn
Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Open 管 →

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