一...一... construction (一问一答etc)

[xh207hi]

Could anybody be so kind and explain to me the meaning to these and show me some examples of how to use them?

 

一问一答

一张一弛

一唱一和

一起一落

一南一北

一左一右

 

I *kinda* understand, but when I'm supposed to use it in a sentence, I'm blank. I know the meaning is (bluntly) that two actions occur simultaneously, in harmony, but how could you translate it to sound more... approachable?

[Demonic_Duck]

With verbs: "one ___ing and the other ___ing".

With adjectives: "one ___ and the other ___".

[Guest123]

 

 

I know the meaning is (bluntly) that two actions occur simultaneously, in harmony

 

Well, either simultaneously, or one afer another, alternating.

In fact these expressions are not "equal", I'm not sure it's possible to translate them all in one way. 

一张一弛 is an idiom, a fixed expression, meaning that in the lifework and rest, tension and relaxation should be well organized in some order.

一唱一和 means "one singing, another one responding like an echo", meaning harmonious cooperation, compatibility between two people, their emotional relation.

一问一答 means asking and answering interchangeably: you ask I answer, then I ask you answer.

一起一落 means instability of the life: success - failure - success - failure

一南一北， like 一东一西 , means being scattered, run in opposite directions.

一左一右 means "one on the left, another on the right", for example, like two policemen taking a suspect to the police car: one on his left, another on his right  

[xh207hi]

Wow Edita, you're simply an angel!!! Thank you so much for taking time and explaining each on of them thoroughly to me :*

 

Demonic_Duck, thank you as well; your explanation makes it easier to understand non-fixed expressions

[Guest123]

xh207hi， 别客气！

[maomao2014]

造句

一问一答：和女生约会如何避免一问一答的尴尬局面？

一张一弛：工作时候全力以赴，玩乐的时候痛快淋漓，这就是一张一弛之道。

一唱一和：他们俩在我们面前总是这样一唱一和的。

一起一落：那海浪一起一伏、一涨一落地涌向岸边，飞溅起朵朵浪花。

一南一北：南京和北京分别是一南一北两座历史名城。

一左一右：教室里一左一右分别挂着两位科学家的画像。