The word **稍稍** is formed through the process of **reduplication**, where the single character **稍** (shāo), meaning "slightly" or "a little," is duplicated. This repetition serves a specific grammatical and expressive function: it softens and moderates the degree of the action or state being described, making it more gradual, tentative, or gentle than the single character alone. As an adverb, it translates to "gradually," "little by little," or "just a bit," and is commonly used to politely express a mild request or to describe a slow, incremental change, such as in the phrase **请稍稍等一下** (Please wait just a moment).