Grammar · Chapter 31
番: counting a round of action
verb + 一番 · 这 / 那 + 番 + 话
番 counts a 'round' of action: 打扫了一番 — 'gave it a thorough clean', 谈了一番 — 'had a good long talk'. The fixed phrase is 这番话, 'these words'. Against the known 次 and 遍: 次 is just 'a time', 遍 is 'through from start to end', while 番 stresses fullness and duration. It never counts objects — only actions and words.
Examples
- 他把房间认真地打扫了一番，看起来干净多了。 Tā bǎ fángjiān rènzhēn de dǎsǎo le yì fān, kàn qǐlai gānjìng duō le. He gave the room a thorough clean, and it looks much tidier now.
- 这番话让我想了很久，真的很有道理。 Zhè fān huà ràng wǒ xiǎng le hěn jiǔ, zhēn de hěn yǒu dàolǐ. These words made me think for a long time; they really make sense.
- 我跟他谈了一番。 Wǒ gēn tā tán le yì fān. I had a good long talk with him.