不免／难免／未免
bound to, naturally (不免, 难免) vs. rather too (未免)
Structure
原因 ， 主语 不免／难免 结果 ； 主语 未免（太） 形容词（了）
What it means
不免 and 难免 say a result follows naturally and is hard to avoid: “bound to”. 未免 is a soft criticism: “that is rather too…”.
How it is built
Cause，subject + 不免／难免 + result: 第一次上台，心里不免有点紧张 (first time on stage, you’re bound to be a bit nervous). 未免 + 太／过于／有点 + adjective: 这未免太贵了 (that’s rather too dear).
When to use it
不免 is only an adverb, before the verb in the clause after a cause. 难免 is also an adjective, so it can end a sentence (这是难免的) and often takes 会: 难免会出错. 未免 judges; it does not predict.
Watch out
✗ 这是不免的。 ✓ 这是难免的。 Only 难免 can stand as the predicate. And never use 未免 for an unavoidable result: it means “rather too”, not “bound to”.
Examples
观众看多了，也不免觉得故事大同小异。
Once viewers have watched enough, they inevitably feel the stories are much of a muchness.
第一次写小说，结构乱一点是难免的。
When you write your first novel, a slightly messy structure is only to be expected.
为了看短剧熬到凌晨三点，未免太不值得了吧？
Staying up till three in the morning for a micro-drama: isn’t that rather too high a price?
Learn this in Lesson 65 · HSK 6: 网文与短剧 (Web novels and micro-dramas)
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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