层层 (céng céng) — layer upon layer; in layers; at multiple levels…

Definition

Reduplicated bound form meaning 'layer upon layer' — physical stacks (mist, hills) or figurative levels (checks, analysis). Always attaches before a verb or noun to intensify.

bound form

layer upon layerin layersat multiple levels (literal or figurative)

Examples

层层，。
Shān shàng céng céng yún wù, jǐng sè hěn měi.
The mountain was covered in layers of mist; the scenery was beautiful.
层层。
Zhè ge wèn tí xū yào céng céng fēn xī cái néng jiě jué.
This problem requires analysis layer by layer to be solved.
层层，。
Gōng sī de ān quán cuò shī céng céng bǎ guān, fēi cháng yán gé.
The company's security measures are checked at every level — very strict.

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.

层cénglayer

Repeating 层 gives the sense of one layer after another, or many levels.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

尸尸shī

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Open 层 →