How to use 一下 to indicate a short action in Chinese

New words

报纸 bàozhǐ newspaper

一 张 报 纸 yīzhāng bàozhǐ a newspaper

看 报纸 kàn bàozhǐ read newspaper

送 sòng to send; to deliver

送 报纸 sòng bàozhǐ deliver the newspaper

一下yíxià used after a verb, indicating an act or an attempt

 看一下 kàn yíxià to look a little bit

 说一下 shuō yíxià to say a little bit
 
 写一下 xiě yíxià to write a little bit

牛奶 Niúnǎi milk

喝牛奶 hē niúnǎi to drink milk

买牛奶 mǎi niúnǎi to buy milk

送牛奶 sòng niúnǎi to deliver milk

Language points

“subject+verb+一下 (+ object)” indicates a short action. It is similar to this structure (verb*2) in HSK 1. For example:

看 一下Kàn yíxià（≈看看 kànkan）to look a little bit

说 一下shuō yíxià（≈说说 shuōshuo）to say a little bit

写 一下xiě yíxià（≈写写xiěxie）to write a little bit

休息 一下xiūxi yíxià.（≈休息休息 xiūxixiūxi) to rest a little bit.