爱…不…
do it or don’t, I don’t care
Structure
爱 V 不 V
What it means
Do it or don’t, I don’t care: the speaker bluntly leaves the choice to the other person.
How it is built
爱 + verb + 不 + same verb (usually one syllable): 饭做好了，你爱吃不吃 (Dinner is ready; eat it or don’t, it’s up to you). Also 你爱信不信.
When to use it
Impatient and blunt: for family, friends or a quarrel. 爱理不理 is fixed: to be standoffish, often 对…爱理不理.
Watch out
Use the same verb both times. Don’t confuse it with the question 爱不爱V (do you like to V?).
Examples
饭做好了，你爱吃不吃。
Dinner is ready; eat it or don’t, it is up to you.
我说的都是实话，你爱信不信。
Everything I said is true; believe it or not, as you like.
我跟他打招呼，他爱理不理的。
I said hello and he barely acknowledged me.
Learn this in Lesson 223 · HSK 9+: 张爱玲：红玫瑰与白玫瑰 (Eileen Chang: red rose, white rose)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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