不…不…【bù … bù …】

neither nor, just right, not too, without, if not then not, bu bu

Puts 不 before each of two words to make a four-character phrase. With opposites it means "just right": is "neither too big nor too small".

HSK 5

AI-generated

Structure

不 + [adjective] + 不 + [opposite adjective]

不 + [verb] + 不 + [similar verb]

Description

不…不… puts 不 before each of two words. What it means depends on the pair, and there are three common kinds.

。

This room is neither big nor small.

Opposites: just right

With two opposite adjectives, the phrase says something sits in the middle – neither one nor the other, and that's how it should be.

，。

These shoes are neither too big nor too small – just right.

，。

It's neither hot nor cold today – very pleasant.

。

You've come at just the right time.

A few fixed phrases turn this into a criticism: 不三不四 means "shady, dubious".

Similar words: not at all

With two words of similar meaning, the phrase is a strong "without": not doing it in any way. These are fixed phrases.

。

He finished speaking calmly, without any hurry.

，。

Before we knew it, it was already dark.

不吃不喝 "not eating or drinking" and 不声不响 "without a sound" belong here.

Condition: if not A, then not B

A few fixed phrases read as a condition. 不见不散 "we won't leave till we meet" is the one learners hear most.

，！

Seven tomorrow outside the cinema – see you there!

Mistakes

The words inside stay bare: no 很, no 太.

× 不很大不很小 → 不大不小

For "neither A nor B" in a plain sentence, use 既不…也不… or 也不… on each clause. The four-character frame only works with single-syllable words.

× 他不喜欢唱歌不喜欢跳舞 → 他既不喜欢唱歌，也不喜欢跳舞

Examples

，。

These shoes are neither too big nor too small – just right.

，。

It's neither hot nor cold today – very pleasant.

。

You've come at just the right time.

。

He finished speaking calmly, without any hurry.

，。

Before we knew it, it was already dark.

，！

Seven tomorrow outside the cinema – see you there!

，。

This dish is neither too salty nor too bland – the seasoning is just right.

，。

Our class has exactly twenty students, no more and no fewer.

。

He left on his own without a word.

。

When she's working she often goes without food or drink.

，。

He's neither fat nor thin, and neither tall nor short.

，。

The colour of this jacket is neither too dark nor too light, and I really like it.

一旦…就

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