未免 / 不免【wèimiǎn / bùmiǎn】

未免 and 不免 look alike and both go before the predicate, but they do different jobs. 未免 is the speaker's verdict that something goes too far: "rather too", "a bit much". 不免 says a feeling or result followed naturally from the situation: "couldn't help", "was bound to".

未免: restrained criticism

未免 usually comes with 太…了, 有点儿, 有些 or 过于. The criticism is there, phrased with restraint.

不免: a natural reaction

不免 follows a clause that gives the cause. What comes after is often a feeling – 有些担心, 感到失望 – or a slip that was likely to happen.

难免 is close to 不免 and has its own point.

Mixing them up

Use 未免 when you are passing judgement, 不免 when you are reporting a natural response.

• × 一个人在国外，他未免有点儿想家 → 一个人在国外，他不免有点儿想家
• × 你的要求不免太高了 → 你的要求未免太高了