整整

• Pinyin: zhěng zhěng
• Hanzi breakdown: 整整 = reduplication of 整 (whole); emphasis through repetition is a common Chinese word-formation pattern

Meaning

A full; exactly; no less than. An adverb used before quantities to emphasize the exact or complete amount.

Always appears before a number + measure word to emphasize that the quantity is not exaggerated — it is exactly that much, often implying surprise or emphasis on the amount. For example: 整整三年 (a full three years), 整整十个人 (a full ten people). Stronger in emphasis than just stating the number alone.

Examples

1. 我等了他整整两个小时。 I waited for him for a full two hours.
2. 这个项目花了整整半年的时间。 This project took a full half year.
3. 她在国外待了整整五年才回来。 She stayed abroad for a full five years before coming back.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, narrative, emphasis

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 我们走了整整一天的路。(We walked for a full day.)
• 这本书他读了整整三遍。(He read this book a full three times.)

Don't Say

• 我喝了整整水。(整整 must be followed by a number + measure word — say 我喝了整整三杯水, not just 整整水)

Origin & History

Reduplication of 整 (whole, complete). The doubling intensifies the meaning, creating an emphatic adverb meaning 'a full' or 'exactly.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal