使使

[Glenn]

I don't know how much it really matters, but I was wondering exactly what the structure of this sentence is (at least the very end):

我的筆忘帶了，借你的使使。

"I forgot my pen. Let me use yours."

Is the first 使 the causative "let" and the second the full verb "use?" That seems to be the case if I take it literally, word-by-word: "My... pen... forget-bring-le. Borrow... yours... causative use." Or is it saying "(I will) borrow yours and use (it)?"

[chrix]

it's a reduplication of the verb, see here: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/23967-%e7%9c%8b%e7%9c%8b

[Glenn]

Ah, so it's the latter. I guess it implies you're just going to use the pen quickly and give it right back, then, from reading that thread.

Thanks!

[889]

I'd say 使使 is used here as well because spoken Chinese in particular often likes to hear two characters in verbs and nouns to flesh out the rhythm of the sentence. This sentence would sound a bit incomplete with just a single 使.

[trien27]

使使 [doubling of 使, used as a verb] = 使用 = 用一用 [to use it quickly and return the pen to the owner]

[Glenn]

In that case it looks like a better translation would be "I forgot my pen. Let me use yours a second."

Thanks for all the replies, guys!

[Inkfish]

使使=用用=使一使=用一用

使 is used by northerner while 用 is used by southerner