Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?











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I ran across 不知不觉 the other day. If I use MDBG to look up c:不*不* I see there are many idioms with that format. Can I use it with any verbs (?) or is it only part of fixed expressions?










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    up vote
    4
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    I ran across 不知不觉 the other day. If I use MDBG to look up c:不*不* I see there are many idioms with that format. Can I use it with any verbs (?) or is it only part of fixed expressions?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      4
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      I ran across 不知不觉 the other day. If I use MDBG to look up c:不*不* I see there are many idioms with that format. Can I use it with any verbs (?) or is it only part of fixed expressions?










      share|improve this question













      I ran across 不知不觉 the other day. If I use MDBG to look up c:不*不* I see there are many idioms with that format. Can I use it with any verbs (?) or is it only part of fixed expressions?







      grammar idioms






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      asked Dec 3 at 8:07









      Ben Jackson

      2007




      2007






















          3 Answers
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          up vote
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          down vote



          accepted











          Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?




          They are different. Most [不 A 不 B] terms are either idiom or four characters idiomatic phrase that you have to memorize individually.



          The A and B in [又 A 又 B] can be a single character word, a compound word or even an entire phrase. e.g. 又高又瘦,又高又瘦削,又想高大又想瘦削



          Below are the common [不 A 不 B] terms:



          [A complement B ]



          不慌不忙: (not panic, not hurry) stay calm



          不聞不問: (not listening, not inquire) ignore



          不知不覺: (not know, not feel) not notice



          不經不覺: (not experience, not feel) not notice (of time passing)



          不瞅不睬: (not looking, not pay attention) ignore



          不明不白: (not understandable, not clear) unclear



          不倫不類: (not any type or kind) ridiculous



          不慍不火: (not angry, not enrage) calm; mild



          不痛不癢: (not hurt, not itchy) insignificant attack/ lost



          不飲不食: (not eat, not drink) not eat nor drink



          不眠不休: (not sleep, not rest) tirelessly; relentlessly, persistently



          不忠不孝: disloyal, not filial (no virtue)



          不仁不義: unkind, unjust (no honor)



          不過不失: (not considered a wrong doing, not considered a mistake) average/ mediocre



          不折不扣: (no discount, no rebate) truly; definitely



          不離不棄: (not leaving, not abandon) never abandon



          不盡不實: (not detailed, not true) not telling the truth



          不驕不躁: (not prideful, not irritated) stay calm and focused



          不屈不撓: (not bending, not yielding) Never give up



          不三不四: (not this, not that) dubious



          [A contradict B ]



          不卑不亢: (not too humble, not too excited) proper demeanor



          不偏不倚: (not lend away , not lean no) right on/ Objective (opinion)



          不緩不迭: (not slow, not swift) steady normal pace



          不男不女: (not a man, nor a woman) sex unknown



          不上不下: (not up, not down) struct in the middle



          不大不小: (not big, not small) the right size



          不冷不熱: (not hot not cold) mild reception; right temperature



          不高不低; (not high, not low) middle position (of rank or level)



          不胖不瘦: (not fat, not thin) average body type



          不咸不淡: (not salty not bland) unremarkable taste/ mediocre



          [B until/ unless A]



          不死不休: not stopping until one is dead



          不吐不快: not happy until saying (something)



          不時不食: do not eat unless it is in-season



          不見不散: not leaving until we meet



          I would update this list when I think up more.






          share|improve this answer























          • Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
            – M_B
            Dec 3 at 19:23


















          up vote
          6
          down vote













          why not? see bkrs: II cons.
          1) 不 A 不 B (where A B are paired synonyms): not A B
          不慌不忙 unhurried
          2) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs): neither A nor B
          不大不小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
          3) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous verbs): no B without A
          不破不立 no constructing without destroying
          cf. restrictions for 又 。。。又, see e.g. https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22both_A_and_B%22_with_%22you%22 bkrs:又.... 又… linking antonyms, often translated as neither... nor, 又不好, 又不坏 , 又不哭, 又不笑,
          [又]不是牛又不是马






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            No, not with any verb, although you would see lots of idioms follow that pattern. You need to learn them separately.






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            • editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
              – user6065
              Dec 3 at 14:19













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            3 Answers
            3






            active

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            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

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            active

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            active

            oldest

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            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted











            Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?




            They are different. Most [不 A 不 B] terms are either idiom or four characters idiomatic phrase that you have to memorize individually.



            The A and B in [又 A 又 B] can be a single character word, a compound word or even an entire phrase. e.g. 又高又瘦,又高又瘦削,又想高大又想瘦削



            Below are the common [不 A 不 B] terms:



            [A complement B ]



            不慌不忙: (not panic, not hurry) stay calm



            不聞不問: (not listening, not inquire) ignore



            不知不覺: (not know, not feel) not notice



            不經不覺: (not experience, not feel) not notice (of time passing)



            不瞅不睬: (not looking, not pay attention) ignore



            不明不白: (not understandable, not clear) unclear



            不倫不類: (not any type or kind) ridiculous



            不慍不火: (not angry, not enrage) calm; mild



            不痛不癢: (not hurt, not itchy) insignificant attack/ lost



            不飲不食: (not eat, not drink) not eat nor drink



            不眠不休: (not sleep, not rest) tirelessly; relentlessly, persistently



            不忠不孝: disloyal, not filial (no virtue)



            不仁不義: unkind, unjust (no honor)



            不過不失: (not considered a wrong doing, not considered a mistake) average/ mediocre



            不折不扣: (no discount, no rebate) truly; definitely



            不離不棄: (not leaving, not abandon) never abandon



            不盡不實: (not detailed, not true) not telling the truth



            不驕不躁: (not prideful, not irritated) stay calm and focused



            不屈不撓: (not bending, not yielding) Never give up



            不三不四: (not this, not that) dubious



            [A contradict B ]



            不卑不亢: (not too humble, not too excited) proper demeanor



            不偏不倚: (not lend away , not lean no) right on/ Objective (opinion)



            不緩不迭: (not slow, not swift) steady normal pace



            不男不女: (not a man, nor a woman) sex unknown



            不上不下: (not up, not down) struct in the middle



            不大不小: (not big, not small) the right size



            不冷不熱: (not hot not cold) mild reception; right temperature



            不高不低; (not high, not low) middle position (of rank or level)



            不胖不瘦: (not fat, not thin) average body type



            不咸不淡: (not salty not bland) unremarkable taste/ mediocre



            [B until/ unless A]



            不死不休: not stopping until one is dead



            不吐不快: not happy until saying (something)



            不時不食: do not eat unless it is in-season



            不見不散: not leaving until we meet



            I would update this list when I think up more.






            share|improve this answer























            • Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
              – M_B
              Dec 3 at 19:23















            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted











            Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?




            They are different. Most [不 A 不 B] terms are either idiom or four characters idiomatic phrase that you have to memorize individually.



            The A and B in [又 A 又 B] can be a single character word, a compound word or even an entire phrase. e.g. 又高又瘦,又高又瘦削,又想高大又想瘦削



            Below are the common [不 A 不 B] terms:



            [A complement B ]



            不慌不忙: (not panic, not hurry) stay calm



            不聞不問: (not listening, not inquire) ignore



            不知不覺: (not know, not feel) not notice



            不經不覺: (not experience, not feel) not notice (of time passing)



            不瞅不睬: (not looking, not pay attention) ignore



            不明不白: (not understandable, not clear) unclear



            不倫不類: (not any type or kind) ridiculous



            不慍不火: (not angry, not enrage) calm; mild



            不痛不癢: (not hurt, not itchy) insignificant attack/ lost



            不飲不食: (not eat, not drink) not eat nor drink



            不眠不休: (not sleep, not rest) tirelessly; relentlessly, persistently



            不忠不孝: disloyal, not filial (no virtue)



            不仁不義: unkind, unjust (no honor)



            不過不失: (not considered a wrong doing, not considered a mistake) average/ mediocre



            不折不扣: (no discount, no rebate) truly; definitely



            不離不棄: (not leaving, not abandon) never abandon



            不盡不實: (not detailed, not true) not telling the truth



            不驕不躁: (not prideful, not irritated) stay calm and focused



            不屈不撓: (not bending, not yielding) Never give up



            不三不四: (not this, not that) dubious



            [A contradict B ]



            不卑不亢: (not too humble, not too excited) proper demeanor



            不偏不倚: (not lend away , not lean no) right on/ Objective (opinion)



            不緩不迭: (not slow, not swift) steady normal pace



            不男不女: (not a man, nor a woman) sex unknown



            不上不下: (not up, not down) struct in the middle



            不大不小: (not big, not small) the right size



            不冷不熱: (not hot not cold) mild reception; right temperature



            不高不低; (not high, not low) middle position (of rank or level)



            不胖不瘦: (not fat, not thin) average body type



            不咸不淡: (not salty not bland) unremarkable taste/ mediocre



            [B until/ unless A]



            不死不休: not stopping until one is dead



            不吐不快: not happy until saying (something)



            不時不食: do not eat unless it is in-season



            不見不散: not leaving until we meet



            I would update this list when I think up more.






            share|improve this answer























            • Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
              – M_B
              Dec 3 at 19:23













            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted







            Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?




            They are different. Most [不 A 不 B] terms are either idiom or four characters idiomatic phrase that you have to memorize individually.



            The A and B in [又 A 又 B] can be a single character word, a compound word or even an entire phrase. e.g. 又高又瘦,又高又瘦削,又想高大又想瘦削



            Below are the common [不 A 不 B] terms:



            [A complement B ]



            不慌不忙: (not panic, not hurry) stay calm



            不聞不問: (not listening, not inquire) ignore



            不知不覺: (not know, not feel) not notice



            不經不覺: (not experience, not feel) not notice (of time passing)



            不瞅不睬: (not looking, not pay attention) ignore



            不明不白: (not understandable, not clear) unclear



            不倫不類: (not any type or kind) ridiculous



            不慍不火: (not angry, not enrage) calm; mild



            不痛不癢: (not hurt, not itchy) insignificant attack/ lost



            不飲不食: (not eat, not drink) not eat nor drink



            不眠不休: (not sleep, not rest) tirelessly; relentlessly, persistently



            不忠不孝: disloyal, not filial (no virtue)



            不仁不義: unkind, unjust (no honor)



            不過不失: (not considered a wrong doing, not considered a mistake) average/ mediocre



            不折不扣: (no discount, no rebate) truly; definitely



            不離不棄: (not leaving, not abandon) never abandon



            不盡不實: (not detailed, not true) not telling the truth



            不驕不躁: (not prideful, not irritated) stay calm and focused



            不屈不撓: (not bending, not yielding) Never give up



            不三不四: (not this, not that) dubious



            [A contradict B ]



            不卑不亢: (not too humble, not too excited) proper demeanor



            不偏不倚: (not lend away , not lean no) right on/ Objective (opinion)



            不緩不迭: (not slow, not swift) steady normal pace



            不男不女: (not a man, nor a woman) sex unknown



            不上不下: (not up, not down) struct in the middle



            不大不小: (not big, not small) the right size



            不冷不熱: (not hot not cold) mild reception; right temperature



            不高不低; (not high, not low) middle position (of rank or level)



            不胖不瘦: (not fat, not thin) average body type



            不咸不淡: (not salty not bland) unremarkable taste/ mediocre



            [B until/ unless A]



            不死不休: not stopping until one is dead



            不吐不快: not happy until saying (something)



            不時不食: do not eat unless it is in-season



            不見不散: not leaving until we meet



            I would update this list when I think up more.






            share|improve this answer















            Is 不 A 不 B a grammatical structure like 又 A 又 B?




            They are different. Most [不 A 不 B] terms are either idiom or four characters idiomatic phrase that you have to memorize individually.



            The A and B in [又 A 又 B] can be a single character word, a compound word or even an entire phrase. e.g. 又高又瘦,又高又瘦削,又想高大又想瘦削



            Below are the common [不 A 不 B] terms:



            [A complement B ]



            不慌不忙: (not panic, not hurry) stay calm



            不聞不問: (not listening, not inquire) ignore



            不知不覺: (not know, not feel) not notice



            不經不覺: (not experience, not feel) not notice (of time passing)



            不瞅不睬: (not looking, not pay attention) ignore



            不明不白: (not understandable, not clear) unclear



            不倫不類: (not any type or kind) ridiculous



            不慍不火: (not angry, not enrage) calm; mild



            不痛不癢: (not hurt, not itchy) insignificant attack/ lost



            不飲不食: (not eat, not drink) not eat nor drink



            不眠不休: (not sleep, not rest) tirelessly; relentlessly, persistently



            不忠不孝: disloyal, not filial (no virtue)



            不仁不義: unkind, unjust (no honor)



            不過不失: (not considered a wrong doing, not considered a mistake) average/ mediocre



            不折不扣: (no discount, no rebate) truly; definitely



            不離不棄: (not leaving, not abandon) never abandon



            不盡不實: (not detailed, not true) not telling the truth



            不驕不躁: (not prideful, not irritated) stay calm and focused



            不屈不撓: (not bending, not yielding) Never give up



            不三不四: (not this, not that) dubious



            [A contradict B ]



            不卑不亢: (not too humble, not too excited) proper demeanor



            不偏不倚: (not lend away , not lean no) right on/ Objective (opinion)



            不緩不迭: (not slow, not swift) steady normal pace



            不男不女: (not a man, nor a woman) sex unknown



            不上不下: (not up, not down) struct in the middle



            不大不小: (not big, not small) the right size



            不冷不熱: (not hot not cold) mild reception; right temperature



            不高不低; (not high, not low) middle position (of rank or level)



            不胖不瘦: (not fat, not thin) average body type



            不咸不淡: (not salty not bland) unremarkable taste/ mediocre



            [B until/ unless A]



            不死不休: not stopping until one is dead



            不吐不快: not happy until saying (something)



            不時不食: do not eat unless it is in-season



            不見不散: not leaving until we meet



            I would update this list when I think up more.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Dec 7 at 5:12

























            answered Dec 3 at 12:32









            Tang Ho

            26.1k1439




            26.1k1439












            • Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
              – M_B
              Dec 3 at 19:23


















            • Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
              – M_B
              Dec 3 at 19:23
















            Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
            – M_B
            Dec 3 at 19:23




            Great list, thanks for the reference @TangHo
            – M_B
            Dec 3 at 19:23










            up vote
            6
            down vote













            why not? see bkrs: II cons.
            1) 不 A 不 B (where A B are paired synonyms): not A B
            不慌不忙 unhurried
            2) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs): neither A nor B
            不大不小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
            3) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous verbs): no B without A
            不破不立 no constructing without destroying
            cf. restrictions for 又 。。。又, see e.g. https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22both_A_and_B%22_with_%22you%22 bkrs:又.... 又… linking antonyms, often translated as neither... nor, 又不好, 又不坏 , 又不哭, 又不笑,
            [又]不是牛又不是马






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              6
              down vote













              why not? see bkrs: II cons.
              1) 不 A 不 B (where A B are paired synonyms): not A B
              不慌不忙 unhurried
              2) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs): neither A nor B
              不大不小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
              3) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous verbs): no B without A
              不破不立 no constructing without destroying
              cf. restrictions for 又 。。。又, see e.g. https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22both_A_and_B%22_with_%22you%22 bkrs:又.... 又… linking antonyms, often translated as neither... nor, 又不好, 又不坏 , 又不哭, 又不笑,
              [又]不是牛又不是马






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                6
                down vote










                up vote
                6
                down vote









                why not? see bkrs: II cons.
                1) 不 A 不 B (where A B are paired synonyms): not A B
                不慌不忙 unhurried
                2) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs): neither A nor B
                不大不小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
                3) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous verbs): no B without A
                不破不立 no constructing without destroying
                cf. restrictions for 又 。。。又, see e.g. https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22both_A_and_B%22_with_%22you%22 bkrs:又.... 又… linking antonyms, often translated as neither... nor, 又不好, 又不坏 , 又不哭, 又不笑,
                [又]不是牛又不是马






                share|improve this answer














                why not? see bkrs: II cons.
                1) 不 A 不 B (where A B are paired synonyms): not A B
                不慌不忙 unhurried
                2) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous stative verbs): neither A nor B
                不大不小 neither (too) big nor (too) small
                3) 不 A 不 B (where A B are antonymous verbs): no B without A
                不破不立 no constructing without destroying
                cf. restrictions for 又 。。。又, see e.g. https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22both_A_and_B%22_with_%22you%22 bkrs:又.... 又… linking antonyms, often translated as neither... nor, 又不好, 又不坏 , 又不哭, 又不笑,
                [又]不是牛又不是马







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Dec 3 at 9:37

























                answered Dec 3 at 8:24









                user6065

                1,2501510




                1,2501510






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    No, not with any verb, although you would see lots of idioms follow that pattern. You need to learn them separately.






                    share|improve this answer





















                    • editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                      – user6065
                      Dec 3 at 14:19

















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    No, not with any verb, although you would see lots of idioms follow that pattern. You need to learn them separately.






                    share|improve this answer





















                    • editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                      – user6065
                      Dec 3 at 14:19















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    No, not with any verb, although you would see lots of idioms follow that pattern. You need to learn them separately.






                    share|improve this answer












                    No, not with any verb, although you would see lots of idioms follow that pattern. You need to learn them separately.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 3 at 8:43









                    dan

                    10.7k1315




                    10.7k1315












                    • editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                      – user6065
                      Dec 3 at 14:19




















                    • editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                      – user6065
                      Dec 3 at 14:19


















                    editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                    – user6065
                    Dec 3 at 14:19






                    editing suggestion: 2 adjectives, 2 verbs
                    – user6065
                    Dec 3 at 14:19




















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