不 A 不 B
neither too A nor too B; just right
Structure
不 形容词 不 反义形容词
What it means
'Neither too A nor too B; just right': two one-syllable opposites give the ideal middle.
How it is built
不 + adjective + 不 + its opposite: 今天不冷不热 (it is neither cold nor hot today). Pairs: 大小, 早晚, 多少, 冷热, 高低; often followed by 正好 or 正合适.
When to use it
Common in speech. With two words of similar meaning the frame turns negative: 不干不净 (unclean), 不明不白 (murky). With verbs it can mean 'if not A, then not B': 不见不散.
Watch out
The two words must be one-syllable opposites: ✗不大不贵。 ✓不大不小。 Similar-meaning pairs are complaints, so 不干不净 is not 'just right'.
Examples
很多人觉得五分糖不多不少，正合适。
Many people find 50 per cent sugar neither too much nor too little: just right.
这家店的价格不高不低，学生也喝得起。
Prices here are neither high nor low, so even students can afford them.
今天不冷不热，最适合出去走走。
It is neither cold nor hot today: perfect for a stroll.
Learn this in Lesson 14 · HSK 5: 来一杯奶茶 (Ordering a milk tea)
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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