Neither…nor…. 不A不B (Adv….Adv…)
不A不B is a commonly used express in Chinese which could have different indications depending on the meaning of A and B. (1) If A and B are monosyllabic verbs which are similar in meaning, 不A不B is an emphatic negative form. 不吃不喝 don’t eat anything at all 不闻不问 not bother to ask or to listen
(2) If A and B are opposite in meaning, 不A不B mans: a. just right (positive) 不大不小 (neither big nor small) just fit b. neither …nor…(negative) 不中不西 ( neither Chinese nor Western) not a right style 不上不下 (neither up nor down) be suspended in mid air
(3) If A and B are related in meaning, A is the cause, B shows the result. 不看不行 ( If not…, then not…) It won’t be all right unless you take a look. substitutive drills:
这件衣服 大 小 很合适。 这种款式 中 西 没有人喜欢。 他们的产品 不 好 不 坏 , 马马虎虎。 我们 减价 行 打不开销路。
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