Verb + 来 + Verb + 去 (back and forth)

"Back and forth, over and over"

• Verb + to come来lái + (same) Verb + to go去qù = doing something repeatedly or to and fro.
• 走来走去zǒu lái zǒu qù = "pace back and forth"; 想来想去xiǎng lái xiǎng qù = "turn it over in your mind".
• The to come来lái…to go去qù frame shows restless repetition.

Verb + to come来lái + Verb + to go去qù

• Repeat the verb around to come来lái…to go去qù for "back and forth / over and over".

he他tāwalk走zǒu来láiwalk走zǒu去qù。

• 走来走去zǒu lái zǒu qù = "pacing back and forth."

Recap

Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Complements.