数数

[Fred0]

树洞里数数的熊。This is someone's description of himself. What does 数数 mean in this sentence? The closest I can come is, "A bear thinking things out in a hole in a tree."

[Publius]

It's shu3 shu4, the first is a verb (to count), the second a noun.(numbers)

Many Chinese monosyllabic verbs have a default object, for example, 吃饭, 睡觉, 唱歌, 跳舞. 数(shu3) takes 数(shu4).

[Fred0]

Thank you. Then how would you translate the sentence "树洞里数数的熊?"   Does 数数 have some kind of colloquial meaning, like "making yourself busy" or something like that?

[Publius]

Does 数数 have some kind of colloquial meaning, like "making yourself busy" or something like that?

Not that I know of. To me it just means he's counting.

A bear in a tree hole, counting.

[Fred0]

谢谢您。

[Publius]

不客气。